"This is not only a natural disaster but a man-made disaster."

"The army confiscates these things and brings them to Buddhist temples, or brings them to welfare centres without co-ordinating with us.........this is not only a natural disaster but a man-made disaster....The government has not issued anything, not even one rupee of food....Everything we're giving out is from our own local fundraising and collections." - Kirupa Sivam, TRO co-ordinator for Batticaloa - Speaking to Martin Regg Cohn, of Torornto Star.