In Sri Lanka where nearly 40,000 are feared dead and a million made homeless, food, clothing and shelter alone cannot bring life back to normal.

Follow Elmo Fernando who is meeting men, women and children who are trying to rise from their shattered lives along the tsunami hit Sri Lankan coastline.

Galle

“My granddaughter is now worried about her Advanced level exams under present circumstances.”

“The bulldozers are gone. The clearance operation had stopped. No one tells us what is happening any more.”

Displaced people in Galle expressed their frustration about the authorities.

Galle

“My wife was on her way from Irida pola when she was taken away by the tsunami. The help is only given according to party, caste, nationality or other liaisons. We had never received any food, or even a sip of water from anyone,” said Sarath Mendis.

“The tents we got from the foreign governments are not practical. Water comes in when it rains, and it gets extremely hot during the day.” Said M. Chandrani.

“They are very nice to look at, but really useless as temporary accommodation,” agreed minister Piyasena Gamage.