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| Sunday, 30 October 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Waiting for the missing to
come home :
'Help me know what happened to my child'
"I asked God in the morning if I should go to the newspaper office today (Deiyane patthara kanthoruwata yannada?"), says Mary Nonis of Pamunugama, seated at the reception of ANCL, conspicuous among the crowd of usual visitors, dressed as she is in her white jacket, cotton cloth and rubber slippers. "I am happy someone is listening to my story", she says dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief and clutching the file in her hands to her chest. "My daughter, W.K.Ethel Dilrukshi, who left for Lebanon to work as a housemaid, has been missing now for eight years. "We have had no letters or calls from her since July 3, 1997. In my heart of hearts I know she is dead".
I watch her shoulders heave as she gives vent to her grief. How could I comfort her? Would she like a cup of tea, I ask her, unable to think of anything else to say. "No. I don't want anything, except news about my daughter", says Mary. From what she narrates through the sobbing, I gather that a lady called Rita has written to her saying Mali (this is the name they had called Ethel in Lebanon) had died of a car accident. Her body was found in a hospital with her head covered in bandages. In the last letter Mali alias Dilrukshi wrote home, she had written that having run away from her first employer she was now working in a place called Hospital Rizk at Ruezahar Matar-matar in Beirut. "My daughter's bank account and the land she bought are in her name. "I would like to transfer the land to my grandson who is now eighteen years old. But to do this I have to get my daughter's death certificate", explains Mary. "Write down Dilrukshi's passport number too, LO 889834 and my home address, 266/1, Convent Road, Kapumgoda, Pamunugama," she suggests. "Someone might know what has happened to her". Sixty-two year old Mary, who earns a living by making and selling string-hoppers says she is unlucky when it comes to having children. All her four children, (if Dilrukshi too is dead) have predeceased her and all she has left now, is Dilrukshi's son, Anton Sagara Tharanga. "I have kept him in the care of his aunt in Kalutara, because I am scared if he lives with me something will happen to him too". In fact, it is he who had suggested they should seek assistance in finding more information about his mother. "He would have come to meet you today but he has classes on weekdays and he doesn't want to miss them". She concludes with the words "Do something. Help me know what happened to my child". - Aditha |
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