Thank you all for your concern and warm wishes. I am sorry that I have not been able to get to e-mail until now. I can thankfully report that my mom and I are well and safe here in Sri Lanka, having very narrowly missed the tsunami on the 26th December.

On the 25th my family here in Sri Lanka and my mom and I were all travelling to a pilgrimage site in the South called Kataragama. From Colombo we passed through many different coastal towns, stopping in Hikkaduwa and Tangalle to take a swim and see the coral reefs. Out in the calm and beautiful sea, we had absolutely no warning that destruction was mere hours away. Since Kataragama is further inland, we were thankfully spared the next morning when the tsunami hit — never more grateful to be alive.

The next few days we took refuge up in the hills of tea country where the news started to set in — friends and family gone missing and the horrendous number of deaths ever increasing. My cousin’s brother-in-law had been in Yala with his family — one of the most seriously affected areas. The wife and ten-year old son were found in local hospitals. The whole family spent the following few days searching in every town and hospital for the father. Yesterday his dead body was finally found. The only worse fate I could imagine is that of all those bodies that will never be found and all those families who will never stop waiting for their loved ones to return.

The magnitude of this devastation is difficult to comprehend, let alone explain. Every single person we have met has lost someone dear to them. The beautiful Sri Lankan smiles that we normally find here have been replaced with sombre gazes and heavy hearts. In a country that believes so profoundly in the laws of karma, everyone is questioning what Sri Lankans have done to deserve such a fate.

Amidst all this grief, we have experienced very beautiful moments. Apart from our overwhelming gratitude to be alive, we have been deeply touched by the amount of support and generosity people here and abroad have shown. Families who are facing their own deep loss and grief are rallying together to try to help others. We have heard stories of Tamils saving Sinhalese, Muslims saving Hindus and people from all castes and creeds helping any and all who needed their help. The most destitute homeless beggars on the street have been seen offering packets of milk to those in the disaster areas. The main question the Canadian High Commission and other relief agencies here seem to be facing is how to manage the millions of people that want to help. With all this generosity and compassion, it’s hard to lose hope or fall into despair. Most importantly, I take solace in knowing that this country possesses a very strong spirituality that will help it to cope with even the most tragic circumstances. Though it will take a long, long time to recover, we have a lot of faith that Sri Lankans will find their smiles again.

Though our travel plans have not exactly panned out as planned, we’re very happy to be here to help in a time of great need. In the coming days we’ll continue to take part in the relief efforts in any way we can — offering support on behalf of all of you who have expressed your condolences and wishes to help. If all goes well, we’ll be arriving in Ottawa on January 15th.

This year has seen a lot of devastation throughout the world. Here’s hoping that 2005 brings a renewed sense of hope and relief to all.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful new year.

In the beginning of December this year, there was a knock on my door. When I opened it, a beautiful lady and a charming little girl were standing with a big packet. They greeted us and said: 'Please accept this Christmas gift for your family from the Toronto Star.' I remembered suddenly that a lady called from the Toronto Star to confirm the address and whether we would be at home that day. The packet contained many valuable things. It was a moment of great happiness and joy. The glow on faces of my children was worth watching. All of them came to the door to see the cute little girl and to thank them for remembering, respecting and sharing the happiness with us and for considering us as one of their own. Thanks Toronto Star for the Christmas Gift.

Irrespective of the festivities and occasions, we need to understand and respect this spirit, promote and make it common. It greatly helps not only in spreading joy and happiness but in bringing the people closer and creating better understanding. This is the spirit we need to promote: love and peace in the world. This is how we can give richness to the society and make it better, and the best. This is how we can learn to respect each other and live and work together.

A good system helps in the creation of a good society or vice versa. We need to keep an eye on both, in order to protect and improve them. In Canada, we are really very fortunate to have both good ones. We need to follow the principles and process of correction, improvement and perfection, in order to discourage all those who are trying to misuse the terms, facilities and privileges of freedom and equality by creating confusion and misunderstanding.

Canada is undoubtedly the best country in the world and we proudly boast this. Let’s work harder to make it better, instead of allowing the opening of doors for corruption and curses to enter. We must never allow, at any cost, corruption to become part of our society and system.

We cannot allow criminals and devils to flourish and rule over us. To understand this, we can look around and see the hair raising, worsening and shocking conditions in many parts of the world. Many would not be able to bear it and would have heart attacks and sleepless nights. It is our legal and moral duty and responsibility to give peace and protection to the people. We must ensure this at all costs.

I have seen many evil things in Pakistan, my country of origin, which I love very much. It pains me a lot to see the people suffering and dying because of the corrupt rulers, the system and the society. The corrupt system and society compelled ninety-nine percent of the people who left the country to do so.

When my family received the Christmas gift it reminded me of my days in Pakistan during the holy month of Ramazan. Immediately after sighting of the moon, the prices of fruit and other essential eatable items are increased beyond the reach of the poor and middle class thus depriving them of even the basic essentials. The government can definitely do a lot by controlling the prices, but it watches on silently.

When the Eid Festivals come, thousands of professional beggars flock to the cities from all parts of the country and deprive the deserving ones of their share. They kidnap children, maim them and force them to beg. They sell the girls to pimps and make them prostitutes.

Let’s start the Year 2005 with a campaign against these curses. Wishing everyone a happy new year.