Some Stories and Experiences of My Travels

Chamila Delrukshi is 30 years old and her husband was killed in the civil war nearly 5 years ago. She is the mother of Dishan 6 yrs old who wants to follow his father into the army, a key employer to Sri Lanka's rural youth. Her daughter Dilini is 7 years old and, although Buddhist, goes to the local Catholic convent school in nearby Matara and both children are collected each day by a school bus. Chamila said 'I am so thrilled with my new house, Before the Tsunami I lived in a small wooden shack next to my parents house now I have a new house of my own and still next to my parents'. 'I had a sewing machine before the Tsunami but that was washed away but I hope I will finally replace it and be able to supplement my army widows pension of 7,000 rupees per month.'