Tsunami
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Vevidevi Sakthivil is broken-hearted. She lost her only daughter in the 2004 tsunami. Her husband died eight years later, after the boat taking him to Australia capsized at sea. Today, Vevidevi survives thanks to the support provided by one of her sons who has become a farmer. © SDC
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Rani Upananda (centre) had the luck not to lose either her son or her husband on 26 December 2004, although they they were both out at sea on that day. Today, the two men continue to fish in the open sea. © SDC
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A son was born to the Saravanabawan family in 2010. While nothing can erase the memory of his big brother, who died in the tsunami in 2004, he is the pride of the family. He is also a ray of sunshine to his parents, who run a small business in the town of Trincomalee, when their debts become overwhelming. © SDC
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In 2004, Ranjani Samarawickrema, who never learnt to swim, was saved from the tidal wave by his wife. Now that the sea is calm again, he rents out rooms of his house which he converted into holiday accommodation for visitors to the region. © SDC
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Forced to give up farming during the 1990s because of the war, the Sahithu family decided to move to the coast to take up fishing… After the tsunami, Kasideen Sahithu, the father, went back to fishing. But with eight children to feed it is hard to make ends meet. © SDC
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In 2004, Inoka Priyanjany and her son Lakhsan sought refuge in a temple to escape the deadly tsunami. A little later, Inoka found out she had cancer. Twice a survivor, today she is a deputy-commander in a Civil Defence Force unit, a paramilitary force attached to the police. © SDC
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Asanka Niroshan and is family lost everything in 2004 but found a roof over their heads thanks to the SDC. Some years later, to supplement the meagre income he makes as a fisherman, Asanka supported his wife's plan to go to the Middle East in search of work. But her plans fell through and she is now stuck far from home with no possibility of returning or working. © SDC
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Sriyani has found a new occupation grinding spices after the tsunami destroyed the rice mill she owned with her husband. The couple have three children who are studying, which makes Sriyani look to the future with pleasure. © SDC
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Well before the tsunami, Abdul Latheef had decided to leave his house to his daughter as a dowry. The SDC funds enabled him to rebuild the damaged building in 2004. He has since settled into a modest house nearby and likes to visit his grandchildren when time allows. © DDC
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After the tsunami, Bandula Karunaratne and his wife used the money allocated by the SDC to rebuild their damaged house on four concrete pillars, which makes them feel safer. But life for the Karunaratnes is still a daily struggle because Bandula is finding it difficult to find employment. © SDC
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Kanageswari Chandrasegaram found herself alone with her four children after her husband died in the 2004 tsunami. Two of them are still living with her today. One of her sons had to leave school to work and help feed the family. © SDC
