Inadequate Living Conditions in Sri Lanka

Many people in Sri Lanka suffer from inadequate housing conditions especially in rural areas. As a result some head to the cities looking to find a better standard of living.

Walking into shanty housing in and around Sri Lanka brings certain memories of a book I was reading written by Dominique Lapierre. This most certainly is far from a City of Joy. Many people in Sri Lanka suffer from inadequate housing conditions and tend to voice out their concerns. The majority of whom suffer from poverty and some who come from villages, great distances away, head towards the capital to fulfil a dream, to find a better way of life to support their families. Many who come with this great vision do not become millionaires over night and eventually struggle through the nights to earn a living. Home to many of these people vary. Some live in the most in-humain conditions with only a card board box which forms the four corners of the walls to their dwelling. A common toilet to a family of six would just be a room constructed out of boxes and scarp wood found alongside garbage piles. These would just be lent against a wall leading to an opening to the drain below. Hygiene is a major concern as the diseased in all forms tend to surround these types of homes. Children are the main concern here as many suffer on a daily basis. Malnourished symptoms could be identified immediately, yet they tend to carry on "unnoticed".
The other types of homes are those that are formed within slum dwellings. Communities have settled themselves around the coastal belt or inner belts within the major cities where they have access to
water and less traffic. Under bridges or along side canals is where the properties seem to be forming more often than ever before.
A boy seen here in one of the pictures above is from a family of four and is the eldest of the children. He suffered an accident which lead to him, losing his sight in one eye. Sadly the other eye too was not giving him perfect vision. Being talented in many ways he now has to stay home as no school would accept him. Most children such as this, going through hardships which many of us may be unaware of. They suffer within communities like this where living conditions are very minimal and life on a daily basis is an ongoing struggle. The houses are surrounded by garbage piles, carrying disease which is a major concern.
They do not accept things as they are, for they truly wish to develop themselves to make a
better living for their future generations. Without the right support, many sadly tend to either be neglected or look toward other avenues to find help, many a time getting into the wrong hands which in turn lead to trouble with the law. They do not wish to be where they are as they consider themselves equal and only wish to be treated as such. Inadequate living is a great problem in Sri Lanka and needs continued support.