More than thirty thousand people were killed in boxing day Tsunami. Half a million made homeless. Ninety housand permanent houses are needed, however only a few thousand are being built. Like every other village,people of Pathirajagama in Balapitiya are tired of chasing the officilas and filling up forms.

Five and a half months old Vishva Shamantha Buddika crawls on a mud floor

There are eighty five families-three hundred and thirty seven persons living in eighty four shelters.

Pets and people live together

Four years old Kavithilanga Upul Asanka is having breadfruit for breakfast

Fifty one years old Hemalatha Muthumuni making preperations to cook luch for her four children

Tot napping...there is no quiet space nor privacy

Seven years old Vimukthi Sachidra Buddhika enjoys breadfruit, while his younger brother fast asleep.

Twenty five years old Nissansala Asanka cooks Dhal curry for lunch, while her two years old son Pasinthu Upul Asanka looks on.

The transitional shelters are overcrowded

Corrugated metal sheets are used for the shelters

"We have only one room.How can an extended family member live with us?"queries twenty seven years old Dilshika Damayanthi Bubbhika

It's very congested

People still suffer, after three hundred days

Eight years old Prabha Sankalpani De Silva

The children are desperate for toys to play

As the children don't have toys to play, they go to the neighbour's house to play with other children

Seven years old Vimukthi Sachidra Buddhika helps his mother in cooking

Villagers complain that, they have been neglected

People can't afford to use gas for cooking.They either use the firewood or kerosene oil

Eleven years old Dija Jayanthi Dadabage Kalpage complains that, she has to walk to long way to her school

Story telling for children

"Curiosity kills the cat"

Rain or shine, not very easy to live in here.

We waited too long , And how much longer .....?

The basic facilities are shared

Not enough space to play.

An ice cream seller

There have been seven thousand fishermen killed in the Tsunami. And men complain that they live far away from the sea, and very difficult to go to the sea early in the morning, as the transport service is insufficient.

The Tsunami stores