Progress Reports

The Talalla bay and District Support Group, costs and spending to date:



Item / catagory Date cost (rps)

Clearing
Tractor 29/01/05 2,500
Workers (15) 29/03/05 6,000
Lunch 29/03/05 600

Total 10,565

Clearing
Tractor 30/01/05 2,500
Workers (30) 30/01/05 12,000
Lunch 30/01/05 1,550
Tea time 30/01/05 1,050
Chainsaw hire 30/01/05 1,500

Total 19,975

Clearing
Workers (33) 31/01/05 12,200
Tractor 2,400
Gloves (workers) 320
Lunch 1,650
Tea 1,000
Canvas Bags 1,000

Total 17,250

Clearing
Workers 02/02/05 400
Lunch 150
JCB hire 12,750
Tractor 2,500

Total 15,800

Clearing
Workers 03/02/05 11,200
Tractor 2,500
JCB hire 12,000
Lunch 1,550
Tea 1,057
Transport 50
Gloves 930

Total 29,287

Clearing
Workers (30) 04/02/05 9,000
JCB hire 11,060
Tractor 1 2,500
Tractor 2 2,000
Lunch 1,400
Tea 1,190
Gloves 250

Total 27,400

Clearing
Workers (30) 05/02/05 9,000
JCB hire 12,000
Tractor 1 2,500
Tractor 2 2,500
Tea 816
Lunch 1,520
Gloves 100

Total 28,436

Clearing
Workers (24) 07/02/05 7,200
JCB hire 7,500
Tractor 2,500
Lunch 1,520
Tea 955
Transport 80
Gloves 600
General expenses
Motorcycle hire (1 week) 7,000

Total 27,355

Clearing
Workers (24) 08/02/05 7,200
Tractor 2,500
Lunch 1,120
Tea 800
Bananas 120

Total 11,740

Clearing
Workers A/B 09/02/05 10,800
Workers C 3,600
JCB hire 6,190
Tractor 1 2,500
Tractor 2 1,250
Lunch 2,080
Tea 1,225
Livelihood
Deposit 20 coir machines 5,000
General
Paper / internet 1,505

Total 34,150

Clearing
Workers (41) 10/02/05 12,100
Lunch 1,800
Tea 940
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
JCB 1 12,000
JCB 2 3,000
Petrol 250
Sharpening tools 420
Brooms 279
Tools 1,175
Livelihood
Deposit on boats 30,000
Comfort of living
Mattresses (22) 21,285
Trucks for Mattresses 600

Total 88,849

Clearing
Workers (A/B/C – 42) 11/02/05 12,600
Supervisor A 450
Supervisor B 400
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
JCB A 12,000
JCB B 12,000
Lunch / Tea 2,990
Comfort of living
Mattresses X 29 61,726.50
General
Petrol 3,824.80

Total 110,991.30

Clearing
Workers A/B (41) 12/02/05 12,300
Supervisor 400
JCB A 7,500
JCB B 12,000
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
Lunch / Tea 3,750
Sharpening tools 350

Total 41,300

Clearing
Workers (10) 13/02/05 3,000
Supervisor 450
JCB 12,000
Tractor 2,500
Lunch 600
Tea 873

Total 16,273

Clearing
Workers (40) 14/02/05 12,000
Supervisor 400
JCB A 12,000
JCB B 12,000
Tractor A 940
Tractor B 2,500
Lunch 2000
Tea 950
General
Bike rental (1 week) 7,000
Petrol 1,025
Internet use 3,949

Total 54,746

Clearing
Workers A (20) ½ day 15/02/05 3,000
Workers B (20) 6,000
JCB A ½ day 7,500
JCB B 10,500
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
Supervisor 400
Lunch (A / B) 2000
Tea / biscuits 600

Total 35,000
Clearing
Workers (16) 16/02/05 4,800
JCB 9,750
Supervisor A 400
Supervisor B 450
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
Lunch 1,000
Tea 477
Petrol 3,930
Livelihood
Fishing Net 77,600

Total 103,407

Clearing
Workers (20) 17/02/05 6,000
JCB A 2,500
JCB B 2,500
Lunch 12,600
Tea 600

Total 23,700

Clearing
Workers (16) 18/02/05 4,800
JCB A 12,000
JCB B 10,800
Supervisor A 450
Supervisor B 400
Tractor A 2,500
Tractor B 2,500
Lunch / tea 1,491
Repair drainage cover 2,095
Workers for drainage cover 800

Total 37,836

Clearing
Workers (1/2 day) 19/02/05 300
JCB A 6,000
Tractor 1,250

Total 7,550

Clearing
JCB A 21/02/05 12,000
JCB B 10,500
Tractor 2,500
General
Motorcycle hire (1 week0 7,000

Total 32,000

Clearing
Workers 22/02/05 600
JCB 12,000
Tractor 2,500
Foreman 450
Foreman (advance) 450
Supervisor 400
Lunch 320
General
Petrol 1,150.85

Total 17,740.85

Clearing
JCB 23/02/05 12,000
Tractor 2,500
Supervisor 200
General
Phone credit (charity use) 1,000
Internet use 400

Total 16,100

Clearing
Workers 24/02/05 9,750
JCB 2000
Tractor 2000
Supervisor 400
Lunch / tea 220

Total 12,370

Clearing
JCB A 25/02/05 6,500
JCB B 9,880
Tractor 2,000
Supervisor 400
Lunch / tea 277
Livelihood
30 horse power engine 194,000
Deposit on nets 160,000

Total 373,557

Clearing
JCB A 26/02/05 9,750
JCB B 8,840
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 450
Lunches 160

Total 23,200

Clearing
JCB 27/02/05 9,750
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor (1/2 day) 200
Lunches 200

Total 14,150

Clearing
JCB A 28/02/05 10,400
JCB B 8,710
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 450
Barbed wire (school) 2,400
Supervisor 450
Lunches 240
General
Motorcycle hire (1 week) 7,000
Photocopy names list 36
Petrol costs charity 3,298

Total 36,986

Clearing
JCB A 01/03/05 7,280
JCB B 9,100
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor 2,000
Workers 1,800
Brooms X 2 100
Lunches 280

Total 22,560

Clearing
JCB A 02/03/05 10,790
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Workers (6) 1,800
Lunches 280
General
Petrol 3597

Total 20,467
Clearing
JCB A 03/03/05 10,400
JCB B 3,120
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor (+ advance, 4 days) 2,000
Lunches 200
Livelihood
Further deposit 20 coir machines 10,000

Total 29,720

Clearing
JCB A 04/03/05 10,270
JCB B 6,670
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor b 2,000
Supervisor 400
Lunches 200
Community
BOQ + plans for community hall 24,000
Livelihood
9.9 horse power boat engine 150,250
Comfort
Gas cookers ( X 2) 7,201
School materials (57 families)
Socks, umbrellas 9,760
Uniforms 18,462
Stationery, exercise books 10,403.5
School shoes 46,081.80
School bags 22,335.90

Total 310,034.15

Clearing
JCB A 05/03/05 10,530
JCB B 6,890
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 400
Lunches 200
School materials (extra)
School shirts 6,200
Uniforms 4,009
Stationery 10,905
School shoes 37,033.4
General
Petrol 3059.84

Total 83,227.24

Clearing
JCB A 07/03/05 10,400
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 800
Lunches 200
Livelihood
Sewing machines X 2 22,610
Fishing nets (final payment) 374,990
General
Taxi 600
Delivery sewing machines 750
Motorbike Hire (1 week) 7,000

Total 421,350

Clearing
JCB A 10,270
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 450
Lunches 200
Hats 300
Livelihood
Engines (boats) 08/03/05 200,000
School materials (extra)
Maths boxes 1,097
Calculator 955
Clothing 750

Total 223,046.10

Clearing
JCB 5,720
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 400
Lunches 200

Total 8,320

Clearing
JCB 10/03/05 9,360
Tractor A 2,000
Tractor B 2,000
Supervisor 400
Lunches 200
Reconstruction
Deposit for toilets to be built X 5 75,000
General
Mattress delivery 800
Repair to borrowed car caused through accident 6,850

Total 96,410

Clearing
JCB 11/03/05 2,210
Supervisor 400
Livelihood
Final boat payment 184,000
General
Delivery charges boat 2,800
Petrol 3,000

Total 192,410

Clearing
JCB (to clear Talalla school) 12/03/05 6,760
Supervisor 400
Lunch 240
Comfort
Mattresses for rest of village 1 X 55 110,000

Total 117,400

Clearing
JCB 13/03/05 9,100
supervisor 400
Lunches 240
General
Motorbike hire (1 week) 7,000
Stationery 680
Taxi 220

Total 17,640

Livelihood
Chainsaw (for tree feller, lost previous) 15/03/05 71,000
General
Translator / supervisor A 400
Translator / supervisor B (advance 3 days) 1,350

Total 32,750

Livelihood
Replacement equipment for electrician 16/03/05 5,670
General
Translator / supervisor A ½ day 400
Translator / supervisor B (payment to date for March
excluding advance previous day) 400
Car hire replacement 500
Taxi 330
Phone cards (over 6 weeks to aid worker Tony Reaiche) 5,700
Sharpening tools (backdated) 9,000

Total 29,200

Livelihood
Replacement equipment electrician 17/03/05 104,250
Replacement equipment electrician 4,695
General
Supervisor / translator A ¾ day 300
Supervisor / translator B 450
Lunches (backdated for workers) 480

Total 109,935

Livelihood
Bicycles to fish-sellers X 3 18/03/05 18,000
Replacement equipment to welding family 76,820
Replacement tool builder 1,500
General
Supervisor / translator A ¾ day 300
Supervisor / translator B 450

Total 97,070

Livelihood
Replacement goods and equipment 19/03/05 20,000
General
Supervisor / translator A (+ overtime) 500
Supervisor / translator B 450

Total 20,950

Livelihood
Balance for 20 coir machines 22/03/05 55,000
Replacement goods to balance welding family 73,163
School kids
Volley balls + nets 4,710
General
Supervisor / translator A + overtime 500
Supervisor / translator B (for 3 days) 1,350
Petrol 2,700
Delivery coir machines 500

Total 135,196


Livelihood
Chainsaw tree feller 23/03/05 71,000
Sewing machines X 15 178,500
Comfort
Mattresses village two X 50 110,000
Gas cylinder 3,700
Gas 800
General
Supervisor / translator A 400
Supervisor / translator B 450

Total 364,900
Livelihood
Replacement tools carpenter 24/03/05 30,000
General
Supervisor / translator A 400
Supervisor / translator B 450
Transport 380

Total 31,280

General
Supervisor / translator B 25/03/05 450

Total 450

General
Delivery sewing machines 26/08/05 1,000

Total 1,000

General
Petrol 29/03/05 3,400

Total 3,400

Livelihood
Coir machine engine repair 30/03/05 20,000
Reconstruction
Further payment towards 5 toilets (balance to pay 96,000) 30,000

Total 50,000

General
Supervisor / translator A 01/04/05 450
Hire car costs 22,500

Total 22,950

School materials village 2 (63 families)
Stationery / books / pens etc. 02/04/05 9,844
School bags 6,500
Uniforms 34,111.20
Shoes, umbrellas, socks 105,157.7
General
Supervisor / translator A (4 days) 1,600

Total 157,157.7

General
Supervisor / translator A 03/04/05 400
Supervisor / translator B 450
Lunches 300

Total 1150

Livelihood
Ropes and nets (final) 04/04/05 79,960
Comfort
Extra clothing items child 665
Dentistry for young child 5,000
General
Supervisor / translator A (1 ½ days also for tomorrow) 600

86,225

Talalla South Public School

Talalla South Mahavidyalaya is from primary to senior level and caters for 635 students, grades 1 – 13, ages 5 – 18. The School is located about 30 metres away from Talalla Central village and serves many of the children from each area.



School begins at 8:30am and students form lines in their appropriate divisions, while music is filtered through speakers in the courtyard. Each day at this time the students start with a light established routine, serving as exercise and awakens their bodies and minds for the ensuing day.



Physical damage to the school includes a torn gate and harm to the buildings and classrooms, as well as equipment. Before the tsunami the school had spent a sum of money on library facilities such as shelving and books. Their shelves were subsequently well stocked and filled with literature - essential for the enriching of young minds. Now they stand bare and abandoned. Approximately 30 books were salvaged, and the library is currently disused.





We recently cleared the side entrance to the school, clearing a pathway and knocked down some minor buildings (old disused toilets) that were causing obstruction. Council approval was given for this. This is a major improvement and provides easier access for the children.



The principal has requested the possibility of a road, which they didn’t have before but would be a great asset, especially with the rainy season approaching. We also need to repair one gate and obtain another, completely damaged, for the front and side entrances. I am currently looking into costing for this and the above. There are some larger buildings that were damaged and in the future we hope to be able to help with reconstruction. At the moment, as with many established and damaged buildings, the school is still waiting for government decisions on reconstruction to be confirmed.





The library and it’s content were seriously damaged/destroyed. Most of the furniture and shelving can be repaired and repainted to avoid the costs of buying new. Books, dictionaries and learning materials were washed away. Prior to the tsunami money had been donated for the library’s refurbishment and a budget was allocated to books, hence the shelves were filled and the librarian said that children were taking great advantage of the system. There are no longer books available to use. The children loved the many books and stories in both Singhalese and English and the range was suitable for all levels from ladybird editions to advanced. Replacing these vital development tools would be greatly appreciated.



The library also lost a ceiling fan in the disaster, which they need replacing to cope with the stifling heat - unbearable throughout the day. The library walls are closed for security and as reading requires a concentrated mind the lack of breeze is highly disruptive. Further equipment that would always benefit the school includes uniforms, stationery and exercise books.





In the day to day running of the school children battle the elements, shifting and manoevering equipment chasing the shadows from the sun's probing rays.





The items above are essential. In order to heighten the moral, happiness and general mental well being of their students, teachers have suggested that musical instruments and costumes for dancing would be wonderful assets. Singhalese people are highly demonstrative and expression is a central way to alleviate grief and suffering and to lift spirits. I think supplying such items can also be considered vital necessities, to add life and light to their young troubled minds and form an interest and escapism from their barren homes.

Talalla Central

Talalla Central is home to approximately 60 families. Around 20 have moved, compliantly, to a nearby refugee camp situated towards Matara, others remain in the village. Some, out of fear, are clinging desperately to what is left of their homes, if anything, and otherwise residing in donated shelters. They are clinging out of ignorance, and not their own dealing, for as yet nobody knows what will happen to these displaced families. The Government still sits on a ruling that reconstruction, even of temporary residences, cannot be initiated within 100mtrs of the sea.





Confused and afraid of a destiny, yet to be decided, the people of this small village stay fixed to their land, determindly, living below even their own prior standards as leaving could mean they will later be refused access to return.





Amidst this confusion there lives a close group of 11 families, 47 people, of whom we’ve become particularly fond. It’s difficult to say why, exactly, perhaps because of their abilities to cope as a true community in such adverse conditions, surviving together as one rather than clutching to what is available for themselves. Watching them it’s hard to believe the massive extent of their combined losses.





When we arrived they were still living in critical conditions, food rations distributed weekly by the Government of rice and sugar. Of the 11 families, nine lost their homes and possessions entirely. Their tents have been erected closely together on collective land, and they now form a small refugee camp.



Eminent is their absolute tolerance towards these conditions. Residing with inappropriate shelter, places to cook or wash and no livelihood tools to earn an income for their survival. Still, they do survive, contently, and in defiance of all the elements that are rallying against them.



Daily life incorporates laughter, sunshine, tears, arguments, acts of kindness and unkindness, bravery and surprise – just as you’d find through everyday personalities in any village, anywhere. Their familiarity is endearing. The children run from tent to tent, sit with whichever ‘parents’ they choose for the moment and mothers punish and defend when needed, even against their own naturally born. They play and fight, as I imagine they did before - accepting of their diminished environment: still boisterous; shy; determined; fair or bossy – their striking personalities have not been affected.



We recently donated musical instruments to help them through the uncomfortable days and nights without recreation. They play and dance as one family, binding more tightly this incredible sense of togetherness.



The end of next week should see their livelihoods returned, comprising of fishermen, labourers, seamstresses and coir makers, for the entire village. While we cannot help to rebuild their homes at this stage, due to Government ruling, we aim to make sure that all temporary residences are suitable to withstand the forthcoming monsoon. And by returning their livelihoods we are offering them the chance to begin to 'reconstruct' their lives, with an available income.



The people here exemplify the many sub-groups within communities who forge a particular closeness, although this group, and what we have already learned from time spent with them, are particularly dear to us, and our efforts.

Initial Clearing is Over

Operating a ‘cash for work’ system in both villages was a great success and offered many locals who had lost their livelihoods the opportunity to earn an income while clearing away the predominant mass of physical devastation left from the tsunami. We have now finished the initial stage of clearing with fantastic results. Most areas are uncovered and piled tidily allowing clear pathways throughout with land freed of rubble.



Having to finish the ‘clearers’ unfortunately means that there’s no work for them and thus a lack of income, but we are continually looking for further projects where their labour can be utilised. There is now a lot to accomplish in the way of reconstruction. Most of the houses in Talalla Central were lost and the small community, amounting to 47 people, lives tightly in a make-shift camp, their former homes vanished. In spite of this their spirits are amazingly high and never seem downtrodden, such remarkable displays of courage. In Talalla South many houses were damaged beyond repair while others were less affected, this means up to three families can be residing mutually, 12-13 people co-habiting in broken accommodation.





The beach has been freed of debris, broken trees and rubble, it’s former beauty almost restored. People are now frequenting the beach happily while they wait for early morning ‘catches’ from the few fishermen who, as yet, have returned to work. It’s encouraging to see that their fears are lessening as they enjoy simple pleasures such as leisurely strolls along the shore with their families.



The panorama is now unrestricted along one side of the bay. A piece of land, where once stood a family's home, has been smoothed and trimmed of the rubble that remained. Sadly this now removes what was left of Ratu’s house and the memory of his home, wife and two small children, their lives were also taken with the building. He often sits alone on a small, white, plastic chair, a lingering possession of his former household, and gazes pensively towards the ocean. His thoughts are his own and it’s difficult to imagine the depth to where his sorrow leads. Ratu must look towards his future and that of his two remaining sons, he does so with an admirable quality and as far as we can help him we will. Next week should see his boat and livelihood returned so he can begin to work again, at his own pace, with the rest of the fishermen from the bay.











There is still a long way to go before restoration is complete and many projects are due to begin. What we have seen is a general rising of spirits developing from the examples we set. People are taking their own responsibilities further and working enthusiastically with their resources and exceptional courage to re-establish lost elements of their lives.





And so a chapter closes on sweet Talalla Bay, its narrative thread pulling a small step closer towards its end.