Tuesday, July 18, 2006


"I type letters for the clients and earn Rupees three hundred per day. It's not enough to meet my needs, but I am managing with the money which my son in Denmark sends. My wife is expired. The situation is tensed.I do not want to go and live with my son in Denmark, because it's very cold there. I was displaced from Jaffna and no living in Vavuniya with my daughter. I want to live peacefully here" says a retired technical officer the irrigation department Krishnar Sivaguru (68) in Vavuniya town, North of Sri Lanka

"My husband, from Pooneryn and a farmer - passed away. I am now living with my sister in Chetty street in Jaffna. I have three children.They are all married and settled abroad. I come daily to the Nallur Kandasamy temple to pray for permanent peace" says Rajasundari Ratnasabapathy (78) in Nallur, North of Sri Lanka

"Both of my eyes are blind. My husband is ill, and I do not have children. I have to earn an income to take care of my husband. His medical expenses are very costly. I hardly earn Rupees two hundred per day now.I am looking forward to the Nallur Kandasamy Annual temple festival, which begins on July 30th" says Gnanamma Sangaraiah (75), who sells peanut on Kizhakku veethi of the Nallur Kandasamy temple in Jaffna

The jack fruit season has begun in North of Sri Lanka. An ethnic Tamil seller is seen here taking jack fruits to sell in Chavakachcheri public market in Jaffna district

Selliah Ramalingam (65) sells paalaipazham in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka."I go to an area to pick up paalaipazham, which is fallen from the tree, and clean them,thereafter I bring them to Murugandi Pillaiyar temple area to sell. I am growing older, and it is not an easy job for me to do, but I have to earn a daily income to take care of my family"

Alphine Amma Kasipillai (45) sells paalaipazham in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka. Paalaipazham season has just begun. She says that she has eight children and her husband is separated. She earns Rupees three hundred per day. She walks daily from her house to Murugandi Pillaiyar temple area to sell paalaipazham.

Andrew Mills, a journalist from Canada enjoys a mango in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka

A Selam mambazham is sold for Rupees thirty in Murugandi. These mangoes are from Puthukudiyiruppu, North of Sri Lanka. The mango season has just begun

"The mangoes from the North are tastier than other parts of Sri Lanka.I make it a point to stop at Murugandi Pillaiyar temple area to but mangoes, and jack fruits whenever I travel on A9 main high way" says Panchchavarnam Mohanraj (27) of Colombo.

Palapazham from Puthukudiyiruppu, North of Sri Lanka is being sold in Murugandi.A palapazham is sold for Rupees One Hundred

A "Karuththa Kozhumbu mambazham" is sold for Rupees twenty five in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka

Palapazham from Puthukudiyiruppu, North of Sri Lanka is being sold in Murugandi. A palapazham is sold for Rupees One Hundred

Fruit stalls in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka

"Travellers on the A9, main highway (Jaffna-Kandy main highway) are very less now, due to the prevailing tension.Therefore the business is not good.I hope that,there will be more travellers travelling on A9 in the near future, when the annual festival of the Hindu temples begin in "Aadi", the month of July" says a fruit seller in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka Sivasundaraj Thurai (40)

"Travellers on the A9, main highway (Jaffna-Kandy main highway) are very less now, due to the prevailing tension. Therefore the business is not good.I hope that,there will be more travellers travelling on A9 in the near future,when the annual festival of the Hindu temples begin in "Aadi", the month of July" says a fruit seller in Murugandi, North of Sri Lanka Sivasundaraj Thurai (40)