 | | Klaskadwe Rathana Theva in the school he built |
It's not that holy men are a rare sight in Sri Lanka, but they do command enormous respect. Respect that allows them to walk into people's houses for a chat or a cup of tea for instance. This especially applies if said monk has built your house himself. Indeed this monk, Klaskadwe Rathana Theva, has built a whole village, including a school, road, and vocational centre. It's all just outside Beruwala, near a temple, and serves those who've lost most in the tsunami. It's this man that RITA - the Reading Initiative for Tsunami Action - want on-side, and they're planning to help him complete his work. The monk says he's had a vision from God:
 | | The carpentry workshop |
"We managed to re-house all the families in temporary camps in one and a half years. Now we have a new village for those who have lost everything. "But there's more to be done and that's why I've built a training centre - to give people those essential skills." The vocational centre he built teaches young men skills they need in the community, like welding, carpentry, and electrical trade. It's changed their lives. One of the men, Buddhika Chathuranga, told me: "I'm really happy to be here in the electrical workshop. I'm confident I can get a job soon." Another life-changing project is being run by RITA inland from Beruwala, in an area of cleared jungle. They've built three houses here - basic two-bed homes with one kitchen and a toilet - but they're more than many who lost everything in the tsunami ever hoped for.
 | | RITA-built houses inland at Berewala |
Dewadasa Sokumal is a Tamil. He lost most of his foot in the tsunami and ended up with his wife and three children living rough on the railway line. He still has no bedding or belongings to speak of, but it's a roof over his head. "Since the tsunami we've always been sleeping on the floor, but we're very happy to have this house. We had a hard time but this gives us the confidence to rebuild."
 | | 'The mosque that Reading built' |
There should be 12 houses in the development, but a lack of funds and rising building costs means the fourth one has only just been planned out. Not that there's no demand - they've all been taken, indeed there are still many here yet to be housed. The tsunami was two years ago and a massive amount of aid from all over the world was given at the time. But RITA's here for the long haul. It's work with education and housing that gives Sri Lankans a chance, a long-term way out of poverty. | 
