The ocean is a friend of every Sri Lankan. We are wildly attracted by it. That's the case of being an islander I guess. But what happens when such an admirable friend turns against you? Are we irate? Kodiyatu Sunimal, a survivor of the tsunami disaster made it quite clear.

I have always lived by the sea. It was our friend and provider. But now it frightens me. Earlier, the sound of the waves were like music to my ears. Now I have nightmares of waves crashing into my home and taking us away. I never knew the sea could be so destructive.

But despite everything, I still love the sea. I am an islander - I can never run too far away from the ocean.

This Photo Jounal takes us through the story of how the tsunami destroyed Sunimal's neighbourhood and deserted him from his life long home. It gives a reasonable picture of a typical southern family who were lucky enough to survive the disaster.