Children ran to the gate and watch as neighbouring houses celebrate

Sudharma Niroshinee, a mother of two, lives in a tsunami refugee camp in Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa, said the refugees are only focussed on surviving rather than celebrating.

“We cannot practise our traditional customs in these camps,” she told BBC Sandeshaya.

“We were initially given Rs. 5000. They stopped it. We were then given a coupon for Rs. 200. That is also stopped.”

We cannot practise our traditional customs in these camps   Sudharma Niroshini

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and part of India traditionally celebrate the New Year based on solar calendar on April 14, the day sun astrologically enters the zodiacal house Mesha (Aries).

Journalist Gnanasiri Kottigoda, who visited the camp, says there are 252 people of 72 families but there are only 15 fireplaces.

People are waiting in queues to cook milk rice for New Year as there are not enough fireplaces for everybody.

Sriyani Fernando, a mother of three, said they can’t celebrate as her mother is paralysed after tsunami.

Hospital staff gave Saline and sent my mother back to the camp   Sriyani Fernando

“When we take mother to the hospital, they keep her her for two days, give her Saline and send her back. They don’t try to cure her.”

Though there are no celebrations in the camp, children ran to the gate and watch as neighbouring houses celebrate, Kottigoda said.

Nearly 37000 were killed and more than 420,000 were displaced in Sri Lanka during last December’s Indian Ocean Tsunami.

More than three months after tsunami, most of the displaced are still living in temporary shelters.