HERSTORIES

Past

1^st Participant

I was born in Welikumbura, Monaragala. There were 12 siblings in my family. Only 9 are left now. My father was from Maragalakanda and mother was from Welikumbura. My father had died when I was 7 years old. My mother got married to a stepfather.  I was mistreated; therefore when I turned 16, I left home. I went to live with my uncle.

When I was staying at my uncle’s place, I was married off. Then I was 17. I got married to a Tamil person. Those days, there were no racial problems. He looked after me with lot of love. We both learned both Sinhala andTamil. We lived happily.

I had studied only up to grade 2. My Stepfather refused to get me schoolbooks. So I can’t write anything else other than my name.  I worked as a domestic worker since I was 13, and I suffered a lot.

My husband worked as a laborer. I got two children from him. The first one was born in January 1989 and the other one in 1999.

My son was ten years when my husband died.

2^nd Participant

I was born in Bandarawela. After saying no to so many proposals, finally I got married in 1964. We came back to Okkampitiya in 1976. We did farming here. My husband was doing carpentry for the police station. Our house was called, ‘Police House’.

During the war, because of the Sinhala Tamil problems, we spent nights hiding in the wood with the children.

War

1^st Participant

During the war, my younger brother was shot dead. He was running a small shop. He had two children. We still don’t know who his murderer was. We think, that under the pretext of LTTE, someone who was jealous of him killed him 3 years ago.

When I think of the mothers in the North who had experienced tragedy, I feel very sad.

However, although my family is a Sinhala-Tamil mixed family, we didn’t have problems in the village.

Even my children didn’t face any problems. However, we had spent several weeks hiding in the caves and in the woods during times of tension.

I am the only Sinhala person in our village. We ran to hide in fear that the Sinhala people will assault us. We ran with other Tamil neighbours.

2^nd Participant

My son was born on 10.10 1975. He joined the Army in 1995. As we were living with so many financial problems, my son joined the Army. He wanted to build a house for us. He sent letters. But finally, he came home in a coffin. He died on 23. 06. 1997. Although I feel so sad that I lost him, I am proud of my son.

Other son joined the army in 1990. He got injured in a bomb explosion in Jaffna and lost one leg. Now he is a Major in the Army.

He has two children now. I am happy that he is living well.

Today

1^st Participant

Today we live in a small line-house in Aliyawatta estate. There is only one bedroom and a tiny hall house. The Rubber estate is no more. So, we do labor work for a living. Since the roof is made of tin sheets, water drips into the house when it rains. We live with lot of financial problems.

I am suffering from Arthritis. I can’t even bend my legs. Therefore I am unable to do hard work.

I am happy that I came here today. Although we have problems, we are happy that we could participate in this programme. I am glad that I had an opportunity to tell my story.

My son got married two years ago. My other son did the exam, but he could not get through. He is unemployed and stays home now.

My daughter-in-law and I take care of all the household chores.

When I look back at my life, I am happy.

2^nd Participant

We live in Okkampitiya. There are five rooms in the house. The roof is made of tiles.  My husband, son, daughter-in-law, their baby and I live in the house.

I am Sinhala Buddhist. I do charitable work.

I am happy that the war ended.

I don’t have any problem today. I have 12 grand children. I am happy that I came here today.

Future

1^st Participant

Since the end of the war, our village has developed. In future more roads and hospitals will be built. Now we don’t have any fear to walk on the roads. Things will get much better in the future.

I don’t think too much about what might happen to this country in the future. There is no point in thinking of those things.

Sinhala and Tamil youths in our village live in harmony. They live in unity like relatives of one family. Infact there is no problem at all. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but the present situation is very good.

Since there are no jobs and the prices of the goods is going up, we are afraid for the future. We wonder how we are going to face the financial challenges.

2^nd Participant

All of my sons are married. The only daughter says she doesn’t want to get married. I hope to do charity work.

I wish that my grandchildren will study well and achieve success.