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A new life amidst the ruins

As families return to villages deep in the Wanni, the Army conducts classes for displaced children in a temple that bears the scars of conflict
By Hiranthi Fernando

Writings on a rock cave
An ancient cave inscription dating back to 2 A.D. has been found in the jungles of Vavuniya by an officer and soldiers of 216 Brigade while on a patrol in the area bordering Malwathu Oya, before the signing of the MoU. When they came across what seemed to be the ruins of an ancient vehera, they found some stone posts and a flight of steps. When they climbed to the top they had spotted the rock cave with the inscription.

The officer had informed his Brigade Commander, who despatched a party with a camera. The photographs of the site and the inscription were shown to officials of the Archaeological Department.

According to these officials, the inscription in early Brahmin script, dates to the period 2 A.D. The inscription reads that warriors named Suba and Wasaba offered the cave for the use of the Sangha.

Roofless shells of buildings covered with overgrown foliage bear mute testimony to an abandoned village. But Avaranthulawa, in Cheddikulam, deep in the Wanni, is slowly reawakening. Encouraged by the prevailing peace, 21 families have returned here in the hope of rebuilding their lives. Although it will be hard work to build new homes and cultivate their lands once again, the villagers are happy to be back after long years spent in refugee camps.

In the premises of the ruined temple, a little school was being conducted. Army officers, Sgt. Udayakumar, Lance Corporals M.P. Pieris, P.P. Vijithalal, U. Ranasinghe and Nandana, all A/L qualified and especially chosen for the task, were teaching young children. There were no tables or chairs, but two groups were sitting on mats under the trees intent on their work. Inside the damaged temple building, two more classes were in progress.

Cpl. Pieris, was teaching four pupils of the third grade. "We have no textbooks but we teach them Sinhala, arithmetic and English with old textbooks collected from our homes."

Dulani Abeyratne, 9, said she had lived in a refugee camp at Ulukkulama before she came to the village. Another nine-year-old, Chamila Chaturangani said she is enjoying her lessons. They had been sent to Dharmapala Vidyalaya when they were at the refugee camp, said Sanath Abeyratne, 12. "We did not have chairs or tables and we were not treated well or taught properly there. We only learned what was on the blackboard. Now we are happy. We are taught well by the army officers," the youngster said.

Lt. Col. Ravindra Wanninayake, Brigade Commander of 216 Brigade, said they started the school for the children of Avaranthulawa to motivate the families who have returned. Another 20 families now at Ulukkulama camp are preparing to come back.

"We first came here in 1942," recalled K.B. Kamala, one of the villagers. "We set up the village and cultivated our lands. The cultivation thrived and we lived well. There were two schools, a town nearby with 22 shops. We also had the temple. Then in 1985, the LTTE came to our homes and threatened us. They told us to leave on foot not even in a vehicle, and to leave all our belongings behind."

So they fled with only the clothes they were wearing. They walked 15 miles to the Joseph camp in Vavuniya and later army trucks collected those who were hiding. Finally, about 2000 people from eight villages were housed at a large temple in Vavuniya.

Kamala said they had returned to the village in 1988 but had to flee again in a few months. Since then they had returned several times only to have to go back to the camps. Each time, they put up temporary shelters. "Now we have again put up temporary huts until we can get our cultivation started," Kamala said. They have been promised Rs. 15,000 within the week.

Kamala is deeply grateful to the army officers in the area for helping them with transport and in other ways. "Above all we are thankful to them for helping our children to be educated," Kamala said, teary-eyed. "I am crying for happiness because these army officers have understood our plight and are helping us to live," she added.

The resettlement of the villages of the Pavatkulama colonies comes under the 216 Brigade, under the command of Maj. Gen. Gamini Jayasundera, of 21 Division. The closest army detachment led by Captain C.S.S. Dissanayake has been given the task of assisting the villagers in their resettlement.

At a recent meeting with the Assistant Government Agent (AGA), Avaranthulawa was identified as the best village to start resettlement in the area since people have already started moving back. The Grama Sevaka too has settled there. Gampaha Minuwangoda Nilpanagoda Gnanasumana Himi, the priest of Avaranthulawa has also returned to the temple, which had been closed for 1 1/2 years. The army has cleaned the abandoned wells, set up a police post and also conducted a medical clinic. The Brigade Commander was confident that when Avaranthulawa had been resettled, the other villagers too would start returning to their homes.

In 1980, Avaranthulawa was populated by 400 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim families. Apart from the 41 families who were in the Ulukkulama refugee camp, the other families are scattered over the Anuradhapura district. The Survey Department has surveyed the land and demarcated plots for each family. Temporary huts with cadjan have been put up by the villagers until they can get their cultivations started. "We are getting wet when it rains because our houses are built with decayed cadjans. However, we are fed up with living in refugee camps. We thought with the onset of the rains, we can start our cultivations so we came back even before we got the official permission to return," one of the villagers said.

"We are getting the chena ready for planting," said N.H.J. Walter who lives with his wife Podimenike in his cadjan hut. His children are working in Anuradhapura. "We are growing grain and we will be able to harvest in four months." His neighbour, Padmawathie's children are married and live elsewhere. She and her husband are also preparing their chena for planting. She has some goats and a cow.

Renuka and Janaka Samarasinghe are happy to be back with their toddler Maduwanthi, just 2 1/2. " She was only seven days old when we had to leave the village in March 2000," Renuka said. The resettled villagers will receive their dry rations for a period of six months until they get on their feet.

Rankethgama, now known as Warikuttur, adjacent to Avaranthulawa, was a settlement of 180 families. The village has now been reclaimed by the jungle. The belfry of the temple can be seen over the trees. It is said that the temple was built on the site of a 'purana vehera' or ancient chaitya, the remains of which can still be seen. According to legend, one of Dutugemunu's ten great warriors hid at Rankethgama with a devi named Anula. It is said that wherever he hid in the area, he built a temple.

The priest from Rankethgama, now living in Vavuniya intends to resettle in the village soon as an encouragement to the villagers to return.

The villages in this area were settled under D.S. Senanayake's Pavatkulam colonisation scheme.

Some who left their homes, have returned and started cultivating their lands. About 45 minutes drive on the Mannar road, Avaranthulawa, Ranketgama, now known as Warikuttur and Pallaiuruwa are being prepared for resettlement. The bund of Rankethgama tank has been rehabilitated. An irrigation canal also brings water from Pavatkulam tank for the cultivation.

The land is fertile and well irrigated. Electricity has also been provided and the road cleared. It only needs the villagers to come back and settle to grow and produce. "We have spoken to several villagers and they have agreed to go back before the rains," Lt. Col. Wanninayake said. "We have re-assured them of their security."

Another Tamil village in the area, Musalkutti, lies five miles off the Mannar Road, near Malwatuoya. De-mining of the road and surroundings is in progress in preparation for resettlement. Seven families waiting to be resettled, will be given Rs. 65,000 to build their homes in addition to the initial Rs.15,000 given on resettlement. Once the families are resettled, plans will be made to resume services such as transport and schools.

Uneven playing fields
By Lorna Wright
Over the years, 20 to be exact, uncomplainingly, the Elle teams of North Colombo have shifted playgrounds - from the Walligoda 'built on flood-prone land', to the Madagoda container-yard to the 'Kunugoda' filled land where they are now - the Gunapala playgrounds. These are hardly playing conditions - uneven scrub, surroundings littered with garbage.

The matches are invariably played on Sundays. The teams include Api Ekamutu Kreeda Samaja, Nagena Hiru and Nawasuriya Kreeda Samajaya , Henemulla Sooriya Samajaya' and 'Myruwa Kreeda Samajaya. The football teams are the youth Kreeda Samaja and the United Sports Club comprising Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim lads. They had volunteered to assist the Mayor who had given instructions that the playground be improved. We were discussing a good meal, a late lunch after the Shramadana.

"The government spent millions on the Asian Athletics Championships here, but they do not worry about a playground for you all," I tell them.

"Aunty don't say that. After all, the event was good for our country. If only they will give us also a chance to show what we can do," says one youth, Asoka.

Yes, simple good words - words with a ring of hope raked through the debris of their living conditions. No repressed bitterness - just hope.

"Aunty our great benefactor Chaminda was shot dead at Peliyagoda," said another youth Ajith.

"Benefactor! He was known as the kudu karaya, heroin leader of the area," I reply. With tacit acceptance and no-attempt to dramatize his words he says, "Yes but he was the only one who gave us our sports equipment - the footballs, volleyballs, elle sticks, money for prizes, and refreshment for the matches. He helped us. The youth will look for another benefactor."

Benefactors are needed. Please contact Tel 520078 or write to, MoM Foundation C/o NIPU 7/15 Sulaiman Terrace Col.5

The Mom (Memory of Mother) Foundation has as its Founder Members: Lorna Wright, Dr. Marina Refai, Dr. T. Kariyawasam, Lali Kobbekaduwa, Poo Duraiswamy, Maureen Seneviratne and M.K. Ramzeen.
Web: www.momfoundation.org
Email: info@momfoundation.org


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