"Country Roads, take me home - To the place I belong" – John Denver

Refugees from Navalady, who stayed at the Methodist Central College welfare camp for almost four months getting ready to return to their village, Navallady.

Refugees from Navalady, escorted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in a convoy to Navalady.

"I also like puttu" says 38 years old Sivachandra Jegadeesan at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

"I like puttu with ghee" says 7 years old Jeyashankar Luckshan at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

3 years old Dharshika Pushparajah at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

42 years old fisherman Kandasamy Yogathas from Navalady and his 38 years old wife Ithayaviji awaiting to return to Navalady.

Children at the Metodist Centarl College welfare camp in Batticaloa.
"We like Ice cream".

"I do not want to go back to Navalady, where I lost 48 family members including my wife and daughter. I can't see that place, where we used to live together happily" says 40 years old fisherman Vinayagamoorthy Kamalanathan from Navalady, who now lives at the Methodist Central College welfare camp.

Children at the Methodist Central College welfare camp.

"How long do I have to stay here?"

Over crowded Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

"Lets play together."

Sri Lankan Police officer on duty at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

"Who will take care of me?"

A fleet of bicycles parked at the Methodist Cental College in Batticaloa. This school is partly occupied by the refugees from Navalady. Another building across the road is functioning as the school.

"Time to go home."

"When is our turn to return to our own places?"

"I am going home."

"Hold tightly father to be safe when I start driving."

"Good bye our dear friends."

"Good bye my dear friends"

This is all we have to take with us, except the love and affection shown to us by our fellow villagers at the welfare camp.

"I do not like to return to Navalady, where I lost my two teenage daughters, but I cannot stay in the welfare camp any longer" says 42 years old fisherman from Navalady Kandasamy Yogathas.

" I am sad to leave my son, but no choice" says 33 years old fisherman Immanuel Jeyaseelan from Navalady, who lost his wife and daughter.

"I am unable to take care of my son, who is 1 1/2 years. I have given him to my sister in law to look after. I do want to drink and forget the memories for a short period. How long can I do that? Then it will become a habit. And I don't want to get addicted to alcohol" says 33 years old fisherman Immanuel Jeyaseelan from Navalady. He lost his wife and daughter.

"Good bye, please keep in touch".

"We are sad to leave our fellow villagers behind in the camp."

"We are sad , and we are going to miss you all."

Most people from Navalady at the Methodist Welfare Camp do not want to return to their viilage since they feel its too painful to go back there.

"Some people are going back to Navalady. When are we going to see them again? When will we be together again?"

"I am left alone.I am on my own": says 60 years old Rosammah Thurairasa, who is staying at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

A name list of persons who stay in the same room at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

More than one family stays in one room in the welfare camp. About 20 people stay in the same room in the welfare camp. People complain that ,there is no privacy for them to be with their own families.

"Shall I join you?"

"I am hungry"-2 years old Snega Anandan at the Methodist Central College welfare camp in Batticaloa.

Children at the Methodist Centarl College welfare camp in Batticaloa say that, they don’t have enough space to play with their friends.

"The room is over crowded. We can’t stay inside."

Taking a break during mid day.

Coming back to Navalady.

Returning to Navalady from Methodist College welfare camp.

"At last we have come to our own place" - In Navalady.

38 years old Sivachandra Jegadeesan sorts out her belongings , after she arrived in Navalady.

More and more men getting addicted to alcohol, after they lost their loved ones in tsunami. Most of the men say that,they want to forget the bad memories and have a good night sleep.If they don't drink, they can't fall asleep.

"What can I do next? I don’t have anybody or anything."

Some refugees from Navalady, who stayed at the Methodist Central College welfare camp for almost four months have returned to Navalady.

Breeze and shade under coconut trees in Navalady - a place and time to rest.

"I lost everything.I have no money to build a house" says 62 years old fisherman Kanapathipillai Maharajah from Navalady.

62 years old fisherman from Navalady Kanapathipillai Maharajah has found a wheel of his bicycle, which he lost in tsunami.

Sorting out belongings.

Navalady was completely washed away in the tsunami on 26th December 2004.