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2004 Boxing Day Tsunami – Five Years On
A baby called, Sunami - Story by Hasanthi Jayamaha

Baby Sunami Baby Sunami of Negombo, Sri Lanka, a few months after her birth on December 31, 2004. Sunami is now 5 years old and will start primary school in January 2010. Holding Sunami in this picture is her mum, Sarojini.

 

Little Sunami, 5, of Negombo, Sri Lanka, sits on a rock and watches boats goes by on the ocean’s horison. She enjoys the scenery and evening breeze, but when a wave splashes too closely, Sunami runs to her mum on the beach.

 

“Sunami loves the beach and sitting on the rocks to look at the sea, but she is terrified of the waves. I guess, it is because I experienced the tsunami while I was pregnant with her and the fear I experienced, affected her,” explains Sarojini, Sunami’s mother.

 

Sarojini was nine months pregnant when the tsunami of December 26, 2004, hit Sri Lanka. Although Negombo, on the outskirts of Colombo, was the least affected by the disaster, it was still a terribly frightful experience for the family and their community.

 

Sarojini, her husband, Lucky, and their two older daughters, then aged 11 and 6, found refuge at a relative’s home.

 

The wave from Sumatra

Sunami was born on December 31, 2004. Lucky decided to name his new baby daughter Sumathra Sunami Tharanga. In Sinhalese the name means, ‘The tsunami wave that came from Sumatra’.

 

Needless to say, Lucky’s wife and family, and even neighbours, were distressed when they heard what he had wanted to call his daughter. But he had an explanation.

 

“I didn’t give her that name in memory of the disaster, but to remember the big life-changing experience we had. The tsunami challenged the dreams and longings, and the selfishness of people. I saw how people with houses like palaces had to abandon them and all their possessions. We were made to reorganise our priorities. I wanted people to remember what had happened to us and I thought the best way to do that, was to name my child, Sunami,” Lucky says.

 

Primary school

Sunami turned 5 on December 31, and has recently completed preschool World Vision’s Pipena Kusum (blooming flowers) preschool. She will start primary school in January 2010.

 

Just like her sisters, Tsunami is sponsored by World Vision.

 

Lucky relies on his job as a tuk-tuk (taxi) driver to support his family.

 

He says: “Sponsorship has been such a big relief to us as it provides the children with all that is necessary to continue their schooling. But most of all, World Vision’s child society has had a tremendous impact on my two elder daughters. It has helped them discover their talents. I want Sunami also to be a part of the child society from next year.”