Athikovil in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

A scene at Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna.

A scene at Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

A scene at Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

A fish stall in Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

"I earn only Sri Lankan Rupees 200/= per day. I have four children to look after. We used to take either forty or fifty fishing nets to the sea to catch fish. But now we have only eight fishing nets. And it is very difficult to catch crabs and lobsters using these small fishing nets. A fishing net costs Sri Lankan Rupees 4,000" says thirty eight years old fisherman Ponniah Yogathas of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

"My father was killed in the Tsunami. My husband is not well. I have four female children to look after. I earn Sri Lanka Rupees 150/= per day. This is not enough and I don't have anybody to help" says thirty years old Sila sivaganesh of Athikovilady in valvettithurai - Jaffna.

Females of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna, are seen engaging themselves in drying fish for export.

Females of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna, are seen engaging themselves in drying fish for export.

"I earn Sri Lankan Rupees 150/= per day. I have to work daily. Even then it's not enough to look after my family. My husband is a fisherman. I have five children to take care" says thirty eight years old Vimaladevi Srilingam of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna, which was affected by tsunami.

"I earn Sri Lankan Rupees 150/= per day. I have to work daily. Even then it's not enough to look after my family. My husband is a fisherman. I have five children to take care" says thirty eight years old Vimaladevi Srilingam of Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna, which was affected by the tsunami.

Fish being dried for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna.

Dried fish for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna. It is sold for Sri Lankan rupees 1,000/= per kilogram.

Dried fish for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai -Jaffna

Dried fish for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai -Jaffna.

Fish for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

Fish to be sent to Colombo for sale from Athokovilady-Valvettithurai.

Fish for export from Athhikovilady in Valvettithurai -Jaffna.

Fish for export from Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna.

Fish for export from Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna.

Fish for export from Athikovilady in Valvettithurai-Jaffna.

Crabs and prawns caught in the Valvettithurai sea are sent for sale in all parts of Sri Lanka.

Crabs and prawns caught in the Valvettithurai sea are sent for sale in various parts of Sri Lanka.

Dried fish for export.

A scene in Athikovilady in Valvettithurai - Jaffna.

A boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami. There are fifty two men and women working at this particular boatyard.

More boats are waiting to be reapired at the boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami.

A boat is being taken back after the repair, from the boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami.

The workers of the boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, loading the repaired boat in a vehicle.

Twenty three years old Inbachchelvi Benedict and twenty four years old Amalasabeshini Alfonse, at the boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami.They say that "It is not an easy job for females,.This job is meant for men, because a lot of force used to pull and push .Since we didn't have any other choice, we have decide to do this job. There are fifty two men and women working at this particular boatyard.

One hundred and fifty six boats have already been repaired at this particular boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna.

It's a very difficult job for the females. But they have decided to take up the challenge, because most of these females come from the underprivileged familes, which are unable to support them for their higher education or any other jobs.According to the owners of the boatyards the output is similar to the men or sometimes more. The owners commended "The females are hard working and dedicated to what they do". Therfore they have decided to recruit females and train them in hard and technical driven jobs like this.

"I don't have anybody to support me, to study further. As I have to look after my parents, I have decided to repair boats and earn some money" says sixteen years old Subanthini in Maruthappu of Thumpalai in Point Pedro district-Jaffna.

A boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami. There are fifty two men and women working at this particular boatyard. And the boats are repaired free of charge.

A boatyard in Thumpalai in Point Pedro Disrict-Jaffna, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami. There are fifty two men and women working at this particular boatyard.

"I have four children to take care. All are studying.I earn Sri Lankan Rupees 500/= daily, but it is not enough.Although I work hard, I earn only this much.The prices of the food stuffs and others are increasing daily, and what can I do with just rupees 500/=?" queries forty six years old Panchchalingam Nanthakumar of Thumpalai in Point Pedro District, Jaffna. He works at a boatyard, where the boats are being repaired, which were destroyed by the Tsunami.

The fish for bargain sale in Erinthamman Koyilady of Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

The fish being sorted out in Erinthamman Koyilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

An early morning scene in Erinthamman Kovilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

The fishermen approaching to the shore after the catch in Erinthamman Koyilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna, North of Sri Lanka.

Sixteen years old Veerasingham Rajah brings the fish to the shore, after washing them in the sea water.

A happy fisherman with his catch of the day in Erinthamman Koyilady.

"My husband passed away in 1986. I have eight children. I sell fish on the shore, and earn Sri Lankan Rupees 15/= as an average income per day. I live on my own. I mange to live with what I earn. But I am getting older, and I am unable to be in the blazing sun for longer and earn more" says sixty eight years old Paththamani Kailasapillai of Erinthamman Kovilady in Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

Sixty eight years old Paththamani Kailasapillai of Erinthamman Koyilady in Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

The men bargain for fish in Erinthamman Koyilady of Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

The fish for bargain sale in Erinthamman Koyilady of Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

"I go to the shore every day to buy fish and sell. At the end of the day, I earn on Sri Lankan Rupees 100/=, which is nothing. But I have no other source of income. I have five children to take care. My husband is a fisherman. We have been displaced from Mylitty in 1990 and living here since then. My house and other properties were destroyed by the war. I have nothing, but confidence that I will live longer and work" says fifty three years old Thavarasamani Pakiyanathan of Erinthamman Koyilady in Viyaparimoolai in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

The young and old men of Erinthamman Koyilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna, sorting out the fish.

"I am very frustrated. I was affected by the war earlier, and now by the Tsunami. I ask why does it happen to us always?" queries fifty three years old fisherman Thambiah Alagaratnam of Erinthamman Kovilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna.

"I was displaced from my own place Palaly on 15th of June 1990. I lost my family members and properties. Since then I havebeen living in Viyaparimoolai. My fishing boat and fishing net were destroyed by the Tsunmai, in December 2004. I have four children to look after. I can't stay at home. I come her to help the fellow fishermen and earn some money. They pay me depending on the catch. The average income for a day is Sri Lankan Rupees 150/=, which in not enough to buy anythig" says forty six years old fisherman Vinayagamoorthy Velummayilum of Erinthamman Koyilady in Point Pedro-Jaffna.