The first wave bursted the wall to the street away. When the second wave approached Roy doubted whether the house could stand this. The family has climbed the more stable drinking water tank behind the house (which one can reach directly from the upper floor).

Roy's brief description of the catastrophe:
"Tsunami came about 9:30 am to my place. At that time I shouted to my daughter and Nisha and Lasantha to go to up stair and two minutes time we saw from the balcony about 10 feet high waves came to our land side. Then I got worried, told my children and Nisha to climb to the water tank top. Because I saw first my wall fell. Then I thought may be my house might be broken. Thats why I told to my family to go to the Water Tank. We can easily climb to the water tank from our up stair near the toilet."

Piya Nivasa also has defied the second wave.
But the destructions outside and inside the house were terrible. The water has poured through the house up to the first floor. All windows and doors were damaged, the most were destroyed. Almost all furniture smashed just like household utensils and all electrical equipment. Dividing walls were damaged, the water has made holes in the plastering at many places and has destroyed the electrical lines in the house.

The drain of the toilet outside the house was torn and the draining pit partly broke down. There was no electricity and no drinking water for a long time. Only the guest rooms on the upper floor has not been damaged but of course they could not been used because of nothing else worked in the house.

The reconstruction

After the tsunami there was no message from my friend Roy. After one week of anxiety and many attempts to get any kind of contact, I got the relieving and no more expected call from Lasantha: Everyone lives, the house still stands but otherwise everything is destroyed.

For me it was clear: the Piya Nivasa must be rebuilt. I decided immediately to do my part to help. Therefore I have set up a webpage quickly - at that time under the keyword: "Piya Nivasa Needs Help". In this way I got in contact with some (only few) guests of Roy.

And I have started to collect money for Roy’s family. Family, friends and teammates have collected much money in the following half year. Without these donations the reconstruction wouldn’t have been possible. After the first quick money transfer, Roy immediately started with the tidying and reconstruction work.
Meanwhile the de Zoysas had to live in Ambalangoda (almost 5 km from the Piya Nivasa) in two rented rooms for half a year.

Now 7 months later Piya Nivasa is built up again in beauty. First visitors are there again, Roy looks forward to further guests. And we are very happy that this has ended so well.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped.

About me
I am a friend of Roy and his family. I have visited them many times since the late eighties and we exchange letters regularly. I am infinitely relieved that they have survived. I would like to help them. And, egoistical as I am, I would like to be again a guest of Roys hospitality in Piya Nivasa, watching sunsets and enjoying Nishas food.