It was the beginning of a normal day in Jasiline Nona's life, the morning of 26th December, 2004. The night before, the family's simple beachside restaurant in Unawatuna, near Galle in southern Sri Lanka, had been busy with Christmas holidaymakers, Western tourists seeking a holiday in the sun in this island paradise.

In their small house just a few meters inland from the beachside restaurant, Jasiline's daughter and granddaughter were still sleeping. Today was a full moon or Poya day, so normally Jasiline would have been at the local temple praying and making offerings -- she was devout in her faith--but today she was still at home because of the late night everyone had had.

When the water came, Jasiline managed to rouse the sleepers, and certainly saved their lives. In the ensuing chaos of churning water and debris, the cook from the restaurant, Raju, was faced with an agonizing choice - should he help the granddaughter, Nirosha, first or Jasiline?

He went to the aid of Nirosha, and went back for Jasiline, but the walls of the house, unable to sustain the pressure of water, collapsed and the roof quickly followed, trapping Jasiline inside and also striking her on the head. By the time she was pulled free, it was too late.

Jasiline Nona was born in Unawatuna village 71 years ago, and lived there all her life. Unawatuna was a fishing community until the advent of tourism, when foreign tourists began to seek out the palm fringed golden sands and clear waters of Unawatuna bay and slowly a simple tourist infrastructure followed.

Jasiline's life was devoted to her family. She married and raised 3 sons and 3 daughters, with fishing sustaining the family until 18 years ago when, with some help from a foreign tourist, the family was able to start a small restaurant on the beach. As her children grew, two daughters sought work abroad in Kuwait, Cyprus and Dubai, sending money home to help the family, especially after Jasiline's husband died 7 years ago.

Imesh restaurant in happier times

The last daughter, Nilmawathi, herself raised 3 children in Unawatuna and ran the family restaurant, with Jasiline's help. Sister Deepa ran a small tailor's shop and business selling beach clothes to tourists - located to one side of the restaurant. One of Jasiline's sons, Nihal, worked in Unawatuna as a lobster diver in the season and as a gem collector in Ratnapura, a big centre for the gemstone industry in Sri Lanka, during the rainy season when diving is not possible.

Now Jasiline lies in a simple grave in a wooded grove, inland from the scenes of so much destruction and devastation. However, those left behind are seeking to rebuild their shattered lives, and be given hope for the future.

Nilmawathi, who operates Imesh Restaurant and her sister Deepa, who had a tailor's shop, having morning tea before the disaster struck.

This is what is left of Imesh restaurant

Jasiline Nona's house (below) was located behind the tailor shop and across the lane from Imesh Restaurant. Also living with grandmother were her daughters Nilmawathi and Deepa, her son Nihal and grand-daughter Nirosha.

Remnants of Jasiline's house

Bulldozing the house

The Dewundarage Family - revisited spring 2005

The grounds on which stood the restaurant have been cleaned of debris and a temporary wall has been put up. Even though all of the front and side of the restaurant is now gone, the family feels fortunate to at least have ¾ of the kitchen left. This of course needed a lot of cleaning and filling in of dirt in areas which once were concrete and earth.

This property has been in the Dewundarage family for several generations and is now considered a prime spot along this beautiful Unawatuna bay.

The family has had many discussions and has decided to rebuild the restaurant. As is the case with many of their neighbors, they want to start their business up again so that they can earn income. When speaking to Nilmawathi, she said that life has been very difficult financially as everything, including her savings, was lost in the wave, but that at least if she had her restaurant up and operating, she could have an income to help all the family members, as many of them too are out of work.

She said once the restaurant is operational she could prepare lunches for those people that are working in the neighborhood rebuilding their shops, as there are not many tourists now. She knows that the tourists will return, as many resident foreigners and Sri Lankans have come by the shop and told her they would.

Nilmawathi (lavender blouse) discussing revised plans for rebuilding shops with Roshan (orange shirt) her son, Jagath, Geethika and Keerthi

The rebuilding of the restaurant commenced in March when the storage facility located across the road was completed. This storage facility will be modified a little to become the tailor shop that is owned by Nilmawathi's sister, Deepa.

Nilmawathi, Deepa and Raju have been busy making lists for the replenishment of the restaurant so that a proper budget can be made for phase 2 (see update) and for the tendering of equipment, supplies and furniture.

Currently Nilmawathi is living with Deepa in her house, which is located inland from Unawatuna, with her sons Roshan, and his wife Niroshani, Imesh and his wife and children, her daughter, Nirosha, her brother Nihal and Raju - a young man who worked at the restaurant, Thilinikara and several other persons from Unawatuna.

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