After the tragedy, the revival.

On Tuesday 14th June 2005, Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid and Minister of Development Cooperation Armand De Decker came to visit the various rehabilitation sites of the Sri Lanka Southern Coast Reconstruction Program.

During their visit two houses were inaugurated on the site of Palana South. On this location the houses were completely destroyed by the Tsunami. The SLRT is presently building 42 two-storey houses at Palana South which is located just after the 100 m buffer zone. Mr Lakshman Rasaputram, who is in charge of the construction of the houses for the SLRT precised that the SLRT decided to build houses with a storey at 6 meters above the sea level in order to reduce the fear of the future occupants of the houses who will live so close to the sea. He added that specific construction techniques have been used like reinforced concrete beams to make sure that the houses are strong enough to resist a possible retort of the tsunami.

The inaugurated houses are a new start for two families.

The first family is the family Karunadase. Mr H. Y. Karunadase, the father, is 46 years old. He is working as a laborer. He lives together with his wife, his two sons and his daughter. Before the tsunami his mother in law was living with them, but like many others she disappeared during the tragedy.

The second house is given to the family of Sarath Mendis. Mr. Sarath is working for the Ceylon electricity board. Mr. Sarath, his wife, Sandya, and their two daughters of 13 and 5 years old are now living in their new house. In the Tsunami they've lost seven members of their family; their son of 11 years, their sister, their brother, their niece and their parents. Before December 26th they were all living together in the same house. Unfortunately this loss can never be compensated. But Sarath is determined to rebuild his life. This new house is, as he told us, like a dream for him.