WYE VALLEY TSUNAMI FUND

One Year on....

When we touched down at Colombo Airport on 23 rd December 2005, after a 17 hour wait between transfers; I knew I was here in Sri Lanka for the purpose of saying goodbye to a year in my life that I never want to repeat. The delay in Abu Dhabi and Al-lin airports was mainly due to fog, but it gave me the opportunity to chat to people, some going to Sri Lanka for the first time – mostly people going back to Sri Lanka for the Tsunami Anniversary. I talked to a lady that had lost her brother and two nephews in the Tsunami. They lived in Yala and were swept into the water after the first wave. The surviving sister in law had arranged a memorial service on the afternoon of the 23 rd December – the delay meant that she and the party of 10 members of the family (including Mother & Father of the victims) had missed the service. At that point I decided that I had no reason to moan about a 17 hour wait.

We made our way to Unawatuna by taxi and arrived in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

Friends of Unawatuna had funded the purchase of 50 thousand clay dishes, wicks, and oil to be set out on Boxing Day all around the village and lit at dusk. Meanwhile the monks from the surrounding temples had organised 48 hours of spiritual chanting and special prayers and blessings to be held on the beach at one end of the village. The speaker system enables everyone to hear the chanting wherever you were in the village. During the night of Christmas Day I discovered a certain rhythm to the chanting, more like a mantra and once I got into it I could lull myself to sleep, almost hypnotic.

At 9.30 on Boxing Day Kelvin & I decided to position ourselves on the steps to the beach at the Thaproban Hotel, facing the sea – head on. We clung to each other the same as we did during Tsunami and just thinking about it now, still makes me cry.

Later we went to the Thambrapanni Retreat to see the staff and watch the service of prayers at Galle on the television. It all got better as the day progressed. All the people involved were Tsunami survivors and I discovered a unique bond between us. A certain ease when talking and an understanding smile as the tears welled up. For some this visit to Sri Lanka was their first since the tsunami and talking was very emotional, and they just wanted to get the Anniversary over with and then get away from Unawatuna to get on with the holiday. The lanterns distributed made an impressive sight throughout the village together with the spiritual chanting all lead to an effect everyone was pleased with. In the early hours of the 27 th December the chanting finished and the two days remembrance service came to an abrupt ending, signally that life goes on and we must make the very best of it.

In the days that followed we had chance to take stock of the village and see the vast improvements made during the year. Lots of people like Kelvin and I had returned to the village and helped put the place back together again. Shops and bars had been rebuilt and restocked, homes had been rebuilt, schools were a happier places to be and the beach was clean. Tourists were also returning and business was good. Amazing progress made with a phenomenal amount of help from other countries around the world. Later in the week we decided to spend New Years Eve on our own further down the coast in a less well known bay called Mirissa. It was obvious on our arrival in Mirissa that rebuilding had only just begun. A few Guest Houses were open but only a couple of rooms available for guests. This bay did not have the benefit of a protective reef and a large hotel complex called Paradise Beach hotel had literally been flattened. Rebuilding had started and a few rooms were complete and available. As the tourists returned, the revenue would be spent on the development. We visited the harbour and were amazed at the number of brand new fishing boats – no shortage there. We had three nights in Mirissa and returned to Unawatuna feeling renewed. The rest of the time spent in Unawatuna was very restful and the holiday did us a world of good.

At the end of this visit it was clear to us that we need to step back now and let the people get on with their lives. We too must move on. It is a comforting thought that the time we have spent this year tripping back and forth to Sri Lanka, spreading a little happiness and putting the Wye Valley Fund to good use. We can see the evidence of our efforts and also the therapeutic effect of spreading a little happiness.

Our unreserved thanks and total appreciation go to our family and friends who have supported us unconditionally throughout the year. Your support has been essential to our healing process and we hope that in knowing this you also can also eliminate some of the memories and fears of Boxing Day 2004.