Life goes on!

Nandadasa, a 49 years old fisherman, was living at Samaraweera square near Weligama, a small town in the south of Sri Lanka famous for its fishing industry.

He is one of the many fishermen living along the Southern coast belt. He was living with his wife and four children, before the tsunami demolished everything. All were helping him with his daily activities. Nandadasa was hiring people who collected lobsters for him, which he sold to local buyers.

The day the tsunami wave hit Sri Lanka he was at home with all family members watching T.V. Suddenly he heard terrible and heterogeneous noises. He ran out of the house and saw what was happening! When he noticed a huge tidal wave heading towards his house he started shouting and ran to a safer place. It was a terrible moment! Luckily they all survived by climbing a public toilet near the railway line.

Few minutes later they returned to their house and found all belongings destroyed by the tsunami. Some of the neighbours were dead some were badly wounded. He helped together with so many others to rescue wounded people and to look for dead bodies.

Before the tsunami he had a two storey house and hundred thousands worth of house hold items, his lifetime earnings. He said he had lost everything that he had, with tears in his eyes. Today he is again optimistic whilst living in the transitional camp at Pathegama which was constructed by the 'Solideal Loadstar Rehabilitation Trust'.

He specially thanked Mr. Tissa Jinasena and Mr. Pierre Pringiers for listening to their problems and their kind help for the disaster affected poor people. They have given their fullest support to restart the life of displaced people.

The company Loadstar has distributed dry rations, kitchen equipments and is providing temporally shelters including water and sanitation facilities. They also started the construction of permanent houses in various locations.

Nandadasa's expectations of the future are to obtain a new house for his family and also to acquire a bank loan to purchase his fishing accessories and have a better life again.

Finally he said he would like to start his fishing business again, but he doesn't like to live within the hundred-meter zone, because his family is not willing to take a new risk. They fear the sea so much!