|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Living with a ray of hope by Elmo Leonard in Kathankudi, Eastern Province Safra, a five year old Muslim girl sees visions of the white robed figure who rescued her from the tsunami waters on Boxing Day.
Her kith and kin risked death in the face of the swelling tsunami waters to find her. One may wonder how many of the 86 dead, recorded here, were the result of their daring to rescue their loved ones. Safra, who was counted as one of the 200 wounded, looked full of vigour. Kathankudi, close to Batticaloa has a predominantly Muslims population and is reputed as the most densely populated village in Asia. Most of the debris here, has been cleared by the JVP. A few camp houses provided by the Koreans still lie nearby. Little Safra's house still stands. The main bread winner of this family of seven persons is employed as a carpenter in the Middle East. The oldest family member, Sinna Lebbe carries an identity card attested by a Justice of the Peace. For, the Lebbe family lived prior to that in Unnichai, a jungle village in the Eastern Province. When the LTTE chased them away in 1984 they came in truck loads and settled down in Valachcheni. A year later their temporary settlement was touched by the Tigers and they came to Kathankudi. The Lebbe family sees hope in the midst of destruction. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
