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. Seeduwa, Sri Lanka. 08/02/2010.

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 don't become millionaires
over night and eventually struggle through the nights to earn a living to keep
the home fires burning. 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
boxed room constructed out of boxes and scarp wood found along side garbage
piles. These would just be lent against a wall leading to an opening to the
drain below. Hygiene is a major concern as decease 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 with great enthusiasm. 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
the picture 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, go 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 decease 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 lead in getting into 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.