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Introduction

I could have copied the introduction from October/November 2005:  the situation did not change for the people and there was very little private construction activity. Along the south coast, we spotted two new settlements with approximately 25 houses each, built with bricks and very nice to look at.

The black water tanks with the sign:  a donation from the Swiss people, which had plastered the entire coast line, had disappeared and we found all of them in Hambantota town.

90% of the tanks lacked filler plugs and faucets.  The locals told us that those tanks were never in use, not even shortly after the tsunami.  Only some lucky ones got them filled by neighbors with working tap water that helped out without charge.

The reason that all these tanks ended up in Hambantota was simple:  the authorities planned to exchange the tap water system and during the reconstruction it was planned to provide water to the people with the help of the tanks.

Wassertank aus der Schweiz

On the other hand, there was brisk construction activity from the government and by firms.  The country had been plastered with stores from the “Foodcity” chain.  Along the coast and on the main roads to the highland, there was a lot of reconstruction going on.

On the narrow streets in the highland they had “cut” off the front of complete rows of houses up to the first side wall to get enough space for wider roads.  The people still lived in those houses and were rebuilding in the back, what they had lost in the front.

There was again an election campaign going on, this time for the provincial councils.  Sadly, on the day of the elections and the following day, there were some clashes among supporters from different parties in the south.

Thanks to our farseeing driver Victor we were hardly affected.

Wassertank

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