Mathan Thevakumar's fish stall in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway.

42 years old fishmonger Mathan Thevakumar in Elephantpass on the Jaffna-Kandy A9 highway says that, no business after tsunami, since Sinhala people are not travelling on the highway. And he says Tamils do not eat much dry fish as the Sinhala people do, so there is not much business on the highway. He says that he used to earn Sri lankan Rupees 40,000 per day earlier. Now he hardly earns a Sri Lankan Rupees 10 a day!

42 year old fishmonger Mathan Thevakumar in Elephantpass on the Jaffna-Kandy A9 highway.

38 years old Chandramathy Thevakumar, wife of a fishmonger Mathan Thevakumar in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway says that it is very difficult to live in a small hut with four teenage aged female children. And the owner of the land where they live now, requesting them to move, and she says that they have no other place to go to. They were displaced from their home in Neervely in 1995. She says the LTTE has told them that they do not have to move now.

Mathan Devakumar, 42 years, wife Chandramathy 38 years, daughter in the photo is Duji 7 years. They were displaced from Neervely, Jaffna in 1990, since then living in Vanni, and moving from place to place.

Mathan Thevakumar was displaced from Jaffna in 1995 and settled down inVanni. He moved from place to place as, he does not own a land. Now he livesin Elephant pass, along the A9 Jaffna-Kandy highway. He lives in a very small hut with grown up daughters. Somebody came and asked them to leave, claiming that the land which is occupiied by him is theirs, but LTTE told him not to leave.

38 years old Chandramathy Thevakumar

7 year old Duji Thevekumar.

Mathan Thevakumar's fish stall in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway.

Mathan Thevakumar's fish stall in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway.

7 year old Duji Thevekumar.

Mathan Thevakumar's fish stall in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway.

Mathan Thevakumar says that Sinahalese people like to eat dry fish a lot, and not Tamils. Sinahalese used to buy a lot of dry fish earlier, whenever they passed by. Now no business as less Sinhalese travel on A9, he says.

Dried prawns which is priced at Sri Lankan Rupees 600 per kilo gram, but nobody is there to buy.

Dried prawns which is priced at Sri Lankan Rupees 600 per kilo gram, but nobody is there to buy.

Dried prawns which is priced at Sri Lankan Rupees 600 per kilo gram, but nobody is there to buy.

Mathan Thevakumar's fish stall in Elephantpass on Jaffna-Kandy, A9 highway.

Mathan Thevakumar family used to live in Mullaitivu coast, after they were displaced from Neervely in 1995. After the MOU was signed he moved to Elephent pass to do business and earn along the A9. After opening of the A9 many peope started to do business and earn more money. But after tsunami people are suffering again, because no boats, nets and of course less Sinhala commuters on A9. He says that Sinahalese people like to eat dry fish a lot, and not Tamils. Sinahalese used to buy a lot of dry fish earlier, whenever they passed by. Now no business as less Sinhalese travel on A9, he says.