COLOMBO, 8 January 2005 — Tsunami coverage for my newspaper started from the King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh itself. I was coming to Colombo by Sri Lankan Airlines Flight 266 to Riyadh on Wednesday. All the Colombo passengers were in a somber mood. The traditional Sri Lankan smile could not be seen on any one’s face. Every passenger was silent. I asked one of them why?

Every passenger has lost some one in Sri Lanka due to the tsunami attack. “How can one be happy with this burden in mind,” Upali who works as a house driver in Olaya District said.

Upali who hails from Hambantota had lost four of his family members and he could not go immediately since his kafeel (sponsor) was not in the Kingdom at the time of uprising of tsunami waves that had taken 30,860 lives from this fair isle. I could not proceed with him since tsunami tears were coming down from his cheeks. Then I passed on to Hassan who works as a butler at the residence of British Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles.

“I have lost countless relatives in my village of Nintavur located in the eastern part of the island. It’s a small fishing village where everyone was connected to one another. We cannot afford to lose people this way,” Hassan moved off indicating “No more questions please!”.

I turned to the airlines Station Manager Sarath, “I do not think anybody would speak to you freely because their losses are irreparable and they are thinking what more await them when they visit their respective towns and villages,” he said.

I remained silent! Then a messenger from the Sri Lankan Embassy came running to hand over a letter marked “Top Urgent”. It was from Sri Lankan Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar. “Mr. Rasooldeen, please hand over this check for SR5,000 to the Islamic Center for the Physically Handicapped. This is a donation from the Oriental Ladies Group (LG) in Riyadh for those handicapped who have been orphaned by tsunami.”

Now it was my turn to cry. I boarded the flight. As I entered the Colombo Airport, there was a welcome banner which read thus “Welcome to all tsunami aid workers and journalists, please turn right and report to the reception desk.” I did not go that way, I opted to go with other colleagues since I am a Sri Lankan. I turned left and walked toward the immigration, there I saw a large till which stated “Drop a dollar for the tsunami victims”.

The first opportunity for the overseas Lankans to participate in the relief efforts undertaken by the government; I dropped a few dollars and every Sri Lankan followed suit to help those who are still suffering from this cruel tidal attack. All officers including those from the Customs and Immigration Department cleared the passengers without any delay but I could see their untold sadness in their faces.

I walked out of the airport thinking as to how soon I would see them smiling again.