News

The Sri Lankans who returned home safely recounted many a tale of horror and narrow escapes. There were some who were forced to walk at least 10 to 15 kilometres to escape the bombardment, others who were trapped in their houses and forced to virtually crawl out, and still others who were in shock after witnessing air raids for the first time in their lives.

One of the most spine-chilling stories was that of Dulani who had a narrow escape from an air raid, where she had to walk more than six kilometers before taking a taxi ride only to fall into the hands of a Lebanese who had attempted to sexually abuse her before she finally arrived at the safety of the Sri Lankan Embassy.

Dulani Tharanga, a resident from Chillaw told The Sunday Time that she was on the fifth floor in the house where she was employed in the southern part of Lebanon when the area came under a sudden aerial attack.

“There was an attack without any warning. The glass around us shattered and we felt the building was collapsing. I was on the fifth floor with the lady of the house and her two children. When the aerial attack started we decided to make a dash to the basement. When we started going down the stairs more bombs started to fall,” she said.

“We managed to get to the basement. But I felt it wasn’t safe there too. As I got out of the building there was another attack and the building got a direct hit. I ran out in time. All I had with me was my passport and a small telephone index,” she said almost in tears.

When she came out of the building she said she realised most of the surrounding buildings had been hit. She said she was too scared to go back and see what had happened to the family she was with.

“I just walked on. All the buildings were damaged and there were bodies lying around and vehicles burning. I managed to stop a taxi and go to Beirut. I had 100 US dollars and my passport with me. The taxi ride cost me about 25 US dollars,” she said.

When she got to Beirut she didn’t know where to go or what to do. Someone then directed her to a place where other Sri Lankans were supposed to be staying.
“When I got there a Sri Lankan woman said she would give me shelter. I was kept overnight at that house and the next day she went out and told me to wait till she returned. She did return, but this time with a Lebanese man

“I was told to get into a vehicle with him. At that point I noticed that money was being exchanged. But I did not suspect anything. Later he drove me to another location. When I entered this place I suddenly felt suspicious and I realised I had been hoodwinked and exchanged for money. Luckily for me another Sri Lankan man who had seen the exchange of money when I was asked to get into the car gave this other woman a call and warned her to release me. She in turn called the Lebanese man who released me as soon as he got a call from this woman who received the money,” Dulani recounted.

She later managed to find her way to the Sri Lanka Embassy.

Chamila Perera from Nainamadama and two of her relatives were among those who had seen massive destruction and also heard of Sri Lankan housemaids who wanted to return but were not allowed to do so by their employers.

They said in some cases the housemaids were left in the houses while the owners had gone to safer areas.

“We know at least two people from Galle who wanted to come with us but could not join us because they could not reach the embassy. Their employers would not allow them to leave,” Chamila said.

Most of the Sri Lankans praised the efforts of the Sri Lankan embassy officials to bring them home to safety.