We may be nearing half a decade since the 2004 tsunami devastated our country but the memories of this phenomenal natural disaster are still fresh in our minds, especially in those who were victims of it.

The Indian Ocean tsunami or the Boxing Day tsunami (as it's also known, since it occurred on December 26 which is officially known as Boxing Day), was a totally unexpected natural disaster, that left a massive trail of death and destruction, which is traumatising many, even today.

It wreaked havoc, not just destroying and virtually flattening many buildings on its path, but also killing thousands.

In fact, the death toll in the Asian region which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, India,the Maldives, Bangladesh, Thailand and our island, exceeded 270,000! Over 30,000 died in our country alone.

By now most of you must be aware as to what a tsunami is, even though when it first struck the Eastern coastal belt of our country, many were clueless about such a phenomena. No, not even the name was heard of.

Today however, there's hardly anyone who doesn't know about the tsunami, and becomes alert the moment there are reports of earthquakes taking place in Sumatra or in the vicinity. Not all earthquakes trigger a tsunami, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

So, now tsunami warning centres have been installed and even new monitoring centres have been set up. There is no way that anyone could stop a tsunami from taking place, but the loss to both property and lives could certainly be minimised.In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, we saw the best and the worst of humanity in force. This year, as we remember the victims of tthe 2004 disaster, let's hope that in the event we are unfortunate enough to witness another such tsunamiin the future , we'll only see the very best of humanity in action and not even a semblance of its evil side.

Remember them...

Say a prayer and light a candle this Christmas for all those who lost their lives in the tsunami and also the valiant personnel of the three Armed Forces and Police who sacrificed their lives to save our motherland from terrorism. Their families may be low in spirit and need of support, both financial and moral. Reach out to them.