On the morning of February 19, the weather was fair and the seas were calm off the shores of Beruwala. Nature carried no warning of the tragedy that was to take place later in the day which claimed the lives of 16 people including women and children.
Held annually, the feast and procession of boats held in honour of Mother Mary, is a day much awaited by the fisherfolk and families of Beruwala, particularly the parishioners of St. Lazarus Church. Organized by the fishing community, lots are cast to gain the honour of becoming the boat to carry the statue of the Virgin Mary, while an almsgiving is organized to provide food to all those who attend.
Many middle aged fisherman recalled that this procession and feast had taken place even during the time of their grandparents though not on such a grand scale as today. Once smaller wooden boats were used in the procession today - fishing trawlers have taken their place today to carry the large numbers that turn up annually for the feast as it has gained much popularity in recent years.
Overcrowded
Though the procession by sea had taken place over the years without incident, on that day, a trawler named ‘Little Moonshine’ which was the last to leave the dock had been overcrowded, thereby spelling disaster to all on board.
While the Police have arrested the 24-year-old skipper of the boat who has been remanded till March 6, it brings little or no comfort to those who have lost their loved ones.
From a mother who gave up on life but only after saving the infant in her arms, to a youth with a bright future to be married in a few months time, the stories that have unfolded since the incident are tragic and heart breaking.
Parents of perhaps one of the youngest victims of the tragic accident, Gayan and Diana Sanjeewani remain in shock, unable to comprehend that their eight-year-old son is no more. “He was so naughty,” Diana says with a distant look in her eyes. Not having joined her husband and two children on the day, to her the incident is incomprehensible. “I don’t understand what happened,” she said as she sits smoothing the creases out of her little son’s obituary notice. “Look they have got his name wrong on it,” she shows and tells everyone present.
Thirty-six-year-old fisherman Gayan is inconsolable as he recalls the day and incidents. “I didn’t want to go on the day but my son was so excited to take part,” he said adding that the eight year old would keep a countdown of days till the feast. “Even the day before I told him I will take him and his cousins for a sea bath on the day and to forego the procession this year,” he said remembering that his mother and wife convinced him to take the children as they were really excited to take part in the feast.
This is a procession Gayan had taken part in as a child along with his five brothers and later along with their families. Gayan says he would have not gone if he had known his brothers were not going to attend the procession this year. “In fact later I found out one of my brothers had urged people to get off the boat seeing it is over crowded” he says. “If he had seen my husband and the children he would not have allowed them to go,” Diana adds, but as fate would have it Gayan went unnoticed by his brother.
Lopsided
According to Gayan, the boat had set off from the dock around 9.30 a.m. after more than half of the passengers on the boat had alighted having been urged by the Navy. “They said it was overcrowded and asked people to get off,” Gayan recalls adding that he was on the far side of the boat facing away from the dock so had no chance to get off.
After more than half had left the boat, Gayan says it felt safe and believed it would be fine. Undeniably the tragedy would have been greater had people not been instructed to get off at the time.
Gayan said he asked his children to stay in the cabin while he had been up on the deck. “Later my daughter asked to be taken out as she wanted to see the surroundings,” he said. According to him in a matter of minutes thereafter he felt the boat go lopsided when the boat was near the Katukurunda area. “I heard someone yelling, asking a few people who had got on top of the skipper’s cabin roof to get off and then suddenly I saw the other side of the boat come towards me so I carried my daughter and leapt into the sea, if not we would have been crushed by the boat,” he recalled.
According to him he believes the boat toppled because of these individuals who had climbed on the roof of the skipper’s cabin.
Remembering the incidents thereafter Gayan becomes emotional. “My daughter and I went underwater and with great effort I came up,” he says. His daughter was hysterical and crying. Gayan says he was unsure what to do. “I had spent all my energy by trying to save us along with another lady as I tried to keep her afloat by pulling from her hair,” he said.
According to Gayan his last spurt of energy was spent on throwing his daughter up onto the capsized boat to ensure her safety. He shows everyone the cuts and bruises he sustained, still untreated and uncared for as he says such things are now inconsequential.
“I had no way to search for my son, I had no energy to swim,” he said, adding that seeing people drown, the screaming and crying has altered his life. “As I waited for help I saw people going under water,” he said emotionally adding that all he could do was cry out for help.
His son was later rescued and taken on a speedboat to the shore in hospital. He lost the battle to live. Gayan says his son was alive when taken to the hospital which means the child was alive all along inside the boat. “This will haunt me for the rest of my life,” he says.
Gayan expressed his gratitude to members of all religious communities in his village.
“I was brought up in the Muslim village and when this incident happened they all came to our help in every way possible without any thought of caste or creed,” he remembered with gratitude. Even though it as a tragic event they showed that the sense of community is strong in our village still, he added.
It was Parish Priest Fr. Chaminda Roshan and Fr. Kennedy Perera who accompanied the faithful on the procession.
Even though seemingly harsh to some, Fr. Perera said he believes tragedies such as these can only be avoided by banning of the procession. “I say this because there are so many things we cannot control in such a situation so to avoid any further tragedies I think it is best banned or held under strict guidelines,” he said.
Efforts of the locals
“I feel I was born anew having witnessed what I did,” he said adding that it cannot be explained in words. “To see death like that right before your eyes changes you,” Fr. Perera said.
Fr. Roshan emotionally recalled the efforts of the locals to save those trapped and drowning. “Some were banging on the boat with their bare hands trying to save those trapped,” he said adding that 32 lives were saved through the efforts of the locals.
While refusing to blame anyone for the tragedy or delays in rescue, Fr. Roshan said the sense of community among the villagers is a lesson that can be taken from such a tragic event. “The saving of 32 lives itself was a miracle and was possible through the selfless acts of the locals,” he points out saying it has to be appreciated. “If not we would be facing a much greater tragedy today,” he said.