ABSTRACT
The Muslim-dominated, densely populated coastal areas of the Eastern Province, the first point of landfall for the tsunami, sustained the greatest amount of devastation with 10,000 dead and more than ten times that number rendered homeless. Among non-governmental organization (NGO) practitioners, this "always already" notion of masculinity was further concretized through post-tsunami increases in alcoholism and domestic violence, as noted above. The collective memorials are now an organic part of the post-tsunami landscape of Eastern Sri Lanka. Four years before the tsunami, Sivanesan's only son had been forcibly conscripted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) while he was cycling home from school. Committee members often accused each other of rampant corruption and of bowing to political pressure, the latter aspect coming to the forefront during annual tsunami commemorations when heated debates would take place regarding which local dignitaries and militant groups should be invited to the event.
