Avurudu for civilians escaping Tigers

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

They must have never thought that the day would turn so bright by dawn. They escaped taking the chance. For them any other space on this earth was safer than being under the world's ruthless terrorist gang - the LTTE.

The terrorists would hammer, torture or shoot at the escaping innocent Tamil people, frustrated over their human shield getting thinner day by day.

They preferred to take the chance to escape as soon as darkness fell though it meant hiding under thick bushes after crossing the Nanthikadal lagoon, children shivering in cold in the night, clothes getting soaked with lagoon water and feet getting dipped in thick mud. They suffered tremendously in their own skirmish against the LTTE.

At least by now, many civilians trapped in the 'no fire zone' know that they receive a proper welcome by the Sri Lanka Army if they get the chance to escape. But those who escaped and reached the cleared areas at the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year day were overwhelmed with the greatest surprise of their entire life. They did not have new clothes for the New Year. They were unable to prepare sweetmeats for their children. Yet their hearts were filled with the true sense of a new year, new life.

They never expected to enjoy their life. This all happened at the 'Avurudu' festival at Puthukudyirippu organized by 58 division troops. All men and women of the Sri Lanka Army deployed in these areas observed traditions at dawn of the New Year, though not as a celebration. All of them, being traditional Sri Lankans, wanted to deep root a sense of prosperity into these lands hoping for a fresh start. Results of their efforts were in the eyes of the innocent civil people. "Tell Prabhakaran to stop firing at escaping people just for one hour. The entire 'zone' will get empty except for Prabhakaran and his followers," Thambaiah Srikanth (55) from Walaimadam said addressing those at the New Year festival at the Welfare Centre of the 58 Division mainly to receive escapees. "Every officer, every soldier made their contribution as a duty. Since so many people were coming in, we wanted to share the sense of New Year with them and this was organized very quickly and its result was satisfying.

Seeing the civilians enjoying, may be after many years, was more than a victory," Brigadier Shavendra Silva, 58 division General Officer Commanding said. All those soldiers attached to every brigade and unit loaded the festival with kevum, kiribath, kokis and many other sweets made in their own special way.

For the little ones, enjoying sweetmeats was like heaven. What delicacy could they dream while living under terrorists when their parents struggled to bring them a plate of rice? When the Army personnel organized this simple event, under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva, they never thought this would be a success. It gave enjoyment and hope for those who needed it most.