People in Matara, a port city in sourthen Sri Lanka which has been called the "Great Ferry " owing to its thriving fishing industry, are making great efforts to regain the splendor of Matara in the aftermath of an enormous tsunami disaster.
Foreign aids are pouring into the worst-hit area and the local people are
determined to rebuild their home with their own efforts.
Matara, having a population of 76,000, is an attractive tourism resort renowned for its scenic beauty.
However, since Sunday's tidal wave attack triggered by the strong earthquake in Indonesia, the 8.8 square kilometers city has been in the groom of sadness.
Officials from the Municipal Council confirmed 1,061 people were found dead so far, 4,000 others injured in the disaster, while some 10,000 houses damaged.
Lush paddy fields, verdant tea estates and fragrant spice plantations are still stretching to the horizon. But wreckage of shelters and yachts piled up everywhere, making the once-shiny beach view shadowy.
Kariyawasam Indipalage, head of Matara's General Hospital, told Xinhua that 350 wounded are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The hospital has received large quantity of medical aids from the capital and other parts of the country.
Palitha, a 14-year-old school boy with a broken left arm, is reading an English text book in a hospital bed. "I can't afford missing too much of my learning schedule," he said.
In Kamburugamuwa village near the town, 250 houses had been flatten down, the villagers have started rebuilding their homes.
N. K. Amarasinghe, 64, an estate owner, are reshaping his two- story house with the help of his daughters and son.
The skeleton of the house remains standing, possibly due to its high-level construction, said Amarasinghe. But the tidal wave damaged all the windows and doors and flushed out most of the furniture and clothes.
Achini, his 19-year-old daughter, can easily recall the horrific scene. "The wave was as high as the building," she said.
"I had to climb up to the tree to flee the wave," chuckled the high school girl, as if she was talking about a trick played on her by a naughty boy classmate.
Amarasinghe said, "We will rebuild our house and we are awaiting fund aid from the government to purchase materials."
The Amarasinghe family has received forms from the Municipal Council, asking them to register for needed aid items.
Altogether sixteen nations have pledged to provide assistance for Sri Lanka. Volunteers are seen delivering food, drinking water and other most-needed items along the 160 km road from northern Colombo to Marata, on the southern tip of the island nation.
The Indian Ocean has blessed Matara with a thriving fishing industry and the local people believe the ferry city will regain its prosperity shortly.