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Rajapusky

Sri Lanka could have been another Singapore. Tigers made Sri Lanka another Rwanda, in 35 years !

The police imposed a curfew whole day yesterday and together with security forces searched in Valachchenai, Kokadicholai, Kaluwankerni, Vakarai, Kalawanchikudi, Kaluthawalai, Pattipolai, Vavunathivu, Velilaveli, Mawadiwembu, Chenkaladi, Kiran and Puthukudirippu villages.

We left Colombo around 10.30. I asked the conductor as to what the scheduled time of arrival in Batticaloa was and he said 8, 8.30 p.m. I was getting a bit concerned after that information because there were no buses or other public transport into Maankerni after 6 o clock. I had not informed Sivathondan Nilayam at Chenkaladdi about my arrival and hence they would not have expected me and it would not be appropriate for me to arrive unannounced after dark. I had not stayed overnight at Yoga Swami Girls Home at Chiththandi and hence did not think of staying there. Staying at a hotel in Batticaloa town was the last resort. After realizing that we would be passing Sivathondan Nilayam. I decided that Sivathondan Nilayam was the safest for me to stay that night before proceeding to Maankerni the following morning. Passing Pollanurwa, as we approached Batticaloa, the checks increased and their strength intensified. Later I connected it to the bombing of Mr. Janaka Perera. Some did not get off the bus for checks saying they were sick, old etc. I did. Before the final check point the old lady got off and a young man sat next to me. He got talking to me and I informed him quite naturally that I was from Australia etc. He asked me a few questions about my husband and family. When it was time to get off the bus for the search and I got up, he asked me to sit down saying there was no need to get off the bus. When the armed officers came into the bus and asked for the identity documents they did not ask this person and when they asked me he signaled that it was ok. I later asked him how come? . He said he was an army officer returning after his leave. He did casually ask me as to why I would not stay at Kiraan (on the way) and I said because I did not know anyone there. Later I felt that he was testing me in a nice way. He got off at Oddumaavaddi and I said to the conductor to stop at Sivathondan Nilayam Chiththandi. I do not know why I said Chiththandi instead of Chenkaladdi. I said it many times to the conductor as well as the passenger next to me. The bus stopped and the conductor said there you go sister .

I got off the bus and could see no one. A road light was flickering and gradually I saw a young man resting on a bicycle as if he was waiting for someone. I asked him pointing to the gate behind the flickering light whether that was Sivathondan Nilayam
and he promptly said Sivathondan Nilayam is at Chekaladdi and this is Chiththandi . I got upset a little but did not want to show him that. I crossed the road towards the gates of that building which I realized was Yoga Swami Girls Home. Even as I crossed, the flickering light went off and I was in pitch darkness. I put my hands out and tried to find the gates. I encountered the wall and gradually moved like the blind towards the gate. I knocked hard on the gate which was locked from the inside. The girls came out, recognized me and opened their doors to me. That night I learnt that they needed a printer and when I asked them how much that would cost they said Rs.6,000. I then knew that I was meant to go there and hence Arunthathi gave me 6,000 instead of 5,000 I had asked for. I promptly gave the Rs.6,000. That was out of the funds collected from the photographs on page one of the painting by Pradeepkumar Paramasivam for Sunthu who is a quiet Yoga Swami devotee. Sunthu photographed the painting and Sydney devotees contributed $210 out of which came the Rs.6,000. That night when I slept with the kids on the floor I felt that I was in Mother s lap. It felt so peaceful. Yes, Swami mothered me and I needed it badly.