News - Tsunami: Disaster turning to deception

Though painful memories remain in the hearts of those who were affected by the tsunami disaster, and Government and NGO aid arrived in substantial amounts, many victims still depend on donations and funds making it even a means of living.

Around 75 lives were lost at Thotagamuwa, a village in the Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat area of Galle District. Though it is a painful memory, some people in the village have still not given up their tents and wooden houses even though they have received lands from the Government.

Some try to extract money from tourists by describing the December 26 disaster while some others hope to get more than one house, especially from NGOs.

C. Jinaratne (52) a father of two, lost his 18-year-old daughter in the disaster. His house was partially damaged and he obtained relief from the Government.

"There are people who live in wooden houses, but they have already been allocated land. All those who lived within the 100 metre buffer zone got land from the Government but they still remain here to get another house from non-governmental organizations. They give excuses saying that the lands given to them are far from the sea and not suitable as their occupation is fishing," he said.

"Some people in the village got Rs. 250,000 from the Government as compensation, but they are still living in tents and collecting relief money," said Ruwan Kumara (33).

He said the Italian Government is aiding the rebuilding of Thotagamu Wijeyaba Vidyalaya, which was completely swept away and some villagers are hoping to get their wooden houses replaced with proper houses with Italian Government aid. "Some people live in the wooden houses during the day and go back in the night to the houses built for them," he said.

Galle District Secretariat Additional Secretary W. Weerakoon said after a house is given to the head of the family the Divisional Secretary concerned is instructed to see that the wooden house of the allottee is demolished by the owner, but in some areas this does not seem to be happening.

A senior official of the Galle District Recovery and Development Unit functioning under the Galle District Secretariat, said most people in areas frequented by tourists decline to leave the tents and wooden houses.

"Houses are given to the head of the family. However, the family does not leave the shanty house, but instead a relative or married children settle in the shanty. Some who were once fishermen now take to begging for money from tourists describing the tsunami disaster, complete with fake distress cries," he said.