Tsunami victims remembered in Batticaloa, Ampaa’rai districts

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 10:59 GMT]
Black and white flags were flown and a general shut down was observed Wednesday in the districts of Batticaloa and Ampaa’rai marking the third-year remembrance of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami which had killed thousands of people besides devastating the entire coastal areas. Tsunami affected persons who still remain homeless staged a protest demonstration in front of Kalmunai Regional Secretariat and handed over an appeal to the Regional Secretary. Lamps were lit and flags were hung at the memorial sites for Tsunami vicitims in several coastal villages stretching from Vaakarai to Kallaa'ru.

The protesters in front of Kalmunai Regional Secretariat demonstrated shouting slogans and waving placards highlighting housing facilities denied to them even after three years.

Business establishments, Public market and other institutions in Batticaloa and Ampaa’rai districts remained closed while prayers were performed at various places of worship remembering the near and dear ones who were killed by Tsunami in December 2004.

The child, Jeyaraj Abilash, who is called Tsunami Baby 81, was seen with his parents at one of the memorial events held in Kalmunai.

Kalmunai Saluram Organization unveiled a memorial pillar in Kalmunai in remembrance of the 640 people killed in Kalmunai.

Rev. S. Nishanthan, Rev. Sritharan Sylvester, Kalmunai Regional Secretary Ms. Tharshni Prasanth, Kalmunai Municiplal Council leader of the opposition Henry Mahendran were some of the dignitaries who participated in this event.

People were seen visiting the places where their family members, relatives and friends were interred or cremated paying their respects to those killed by the Tusnami.

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