JAFFNA CENTRAL COLLEGE – OBA (U.K)

The Tsunami that occurred on Boxing Day (26/12/04) was one of the worst disasters to affect many Asian countries, including Sri Lanka. Major parts of the coastal areas were affected; worst hit was the North East causing a multitude of deaths among all our communities. Our association is organising a get-together and the profits from this event will be donated to the Tsunami fund. I spent the first 16 years of my life in Kankesanthurai, close to the sea where it was a common occurrence during the Christmas time for the tidal waves to flow about 40-50 yards in land, very close to the houses occupied by our families. Later during my time as a medical officer at Tellippalai a severe Tsunami occurred on the 22nd of December 1964, affecting the Jaffna area. The worst hit was the Myliddy coast where there were more than 60 deaths, while fishing in the Indian Ocean, including few who studied with me at the KKS American Mission School early on in my life. I then moved onto Jaffna Central to continue with my education. In 1967, when I was the DMO in Kayts, another mini Tsunami occurred affecting Delft, Analaitivu, Pungudutivu and the adjoining coastal areas causing many deaths in the sea. Both Tsunamis occurred in areas where I had been working. The relief effort at that time was carried out by medical staff, volunteers, first aid workers, social workers, the police, teachers, students, MP’s, local council members and the general public all working in unison. The Tsunami has caused destruction mostly in the coastal belt. The majority of the people here are fisher folk from all communities toiling hard to support their families on meagre income. The highest death toll was in the North East.