humanity ashore - Mullaitivu
Monday, February 21, 2005
Mullaitivu fishermen go to Vattuvaal lagoon to catch prawns, since no boats to go to sea to catch fish. They go to Vattuvaal lagoon late in the evening to catch prawns. They light kerosene lamps to attract prawns.They say that they can catch a lot of prawns on a full moon day. Small prawns are being sold for Rs.120 per kilo and, big prawns are being sold Rs.180 per kilo. They stay overnight to catch prawns.
Cadjans are being used for roofs for temporary shelters in Unnappu in Mullaitivu district. The labourers are paid Rs. 500 per day, to make roofs for houses. And it all depends on the labourers as to how many houses they can handle per day. Rs. 500 is divided among the labourers involved in making the roofs. Thay are provided with free lunch.
18 years old Maharajah Mayuran wear a teeshirt which says "Highjacker Attack on World Trade Center". This teeshirt was sent from Colombo along with other clothes to Thanniyoottu Hindu Board Tamil Mixed School welfare camp. He stays in the Thanniyoottu Hindu Board Tamil Mixed School welfare camp. He lost his mother and a younger sister.
42 years old fisherman from Mullaitivu, Vincentripaul Anthony Karunel mends his fishing net at the destroyed St.Peter's church. He lost his 37 year old wife Ratnapoopathy, 16 year old daughter Mary Nirojini, 14 year old daughter Mary Nirosha,12 year old son Aruldasan,10 year old daughter Sivajini and 2 1/2 year old daughter Mary Abisha.
He lost his boat and house. He and his 7 year old son Anthonydas survived. Vincentripaul's son Anthonydas is living with his sister in law, as he is finding it difficult to look after his son to feed him and sending him to school.
He says he earned at least Rs. 1,000 per day. "Earned a lot from sea and lost everything to sea." Eventually wants to go to sea for fishing again.
He left the welfare camp as to be in the St. Peter's church, where his children attended Sunday mass and the road which they used to go to school. He said he felt very lonely in the welfare camp, whenever he saw other's children. He wanted to be closer to his late family members and decided to leave welfare camp and stay in the church.
58 year old fisherman Anthony Benedict in Mullaitivu. He lost his 48 year old wife Varathaluckshmi, 22year old daughter Edward Mary Rejina, 18 year old son Ahilan, 8 year old son Kavilan, 22 year old daughter in law Mary Clotta, 22 year old son in law Bandary, 3 1/2 year old grand daughter Edward Roxini and 3 year old grand son Kavilan Rexan. He lost his boat, fishing nets, house. He says that he can't go to sea for fishing, as nothing left.
Sunset behind a graveyard in Mullaitivu district, where 35 year old fisherman Mariyadas Mariyathurai's five family members are buried. His 30 year old wife Amaligres, 12 year old daughter Colastika, 6 year old son Rajeeven, 3 years old son Dhanushan, and 72 year old father Mariyadas were killed by the tsunami.