Found: Ajith Priyantha in Sri Lanka

Day 20.

Ajith called. He broke his hand but otherwise okay. I am trying to put to words together, but cannot. So overwhelmingly relieved. Just have been not facing the idea. Removed Tsunami from mind. Luckily, I was at a friend’s house, as I had company since the emotions that one has supressed finally released. I try to write to my friend and tell her he is okay. But that seems difficult. Can’t find words either. Guess my mind has to readjust from protecting myself from thinking, fortifying myself to wait 30 days, my personal cut off date to come to terms with his possible death, to hearing his voice, sad, but alive.

Gone: Raji from the Unawatuna Dive Center, his staff, the people at Banana Gardens.  Holiday inn is okay, the people and property in Tangalla escaped. Raji, Ajith told me, saved over 40 people’s lives but did not make it himself….

Ajith lost his brother who was in the jeep on the road in front of him. They were both driving 200 meters from the beach and the water just came rushing in and washed the cars away.  Ajith’s car hit a tree, stopping it from going into the ocean, and people came along and rescued them.

When he got home, his family was safe but everything they owned was gone. I can’t imagine him staying at a refugee camp. It’s so strange. Him and his friends were so like us. I think that was what struck me most about Sri Lanka, the people I met, wasn’t like, "Locals," and we were not "toursits," We were just a bunch of 20 somethings, partying, off road driving, on the beach in the forest. It had everything to do with Ajith’s hospitality, and his friends inviting us into the fold. Everywhere we went, were were introduced as friends of friends, rather than guests or customers. It was like just riding with people you know. Any of them could come hang with my friends here, and have a chat. Young, working, starting to build something, but somehow that is all gone. 

I can’t imagine. I said to Ajith, how he is young, he smart, he can build it all again. But his grief was so great. I felt trite even speaking it. But it’s true. I believed it even if he was unconvinced.

He said it was good to hear something positive, a strong feeling as what is around him is destroyed.

He wept when he spoke of the four minutes it took to take everything he knows well to be leveled, destroyed, and watching people being swept away. Everyone has lost lots of family, losts of friends. I can’t imagine how one rebuilds from that.

For the rest of their lives a shadow is cast on everyone who survived.

Missing: Ajith Priyantha in Sri Lanka