This photo was taken for a post-tsunami recovery project based in Madampagama on the south west coast of Sri Lanka. The project is a joint effort between The Sustainable Trust in the UK and The Centre for Environment and Development in Sri Lanka. For more details on this project click here.

This photo was taken during the Sinhalese New Year celebrations which actually take place around Easter time. The village spent a day playing games, running competitions and giving prize givings with all the events sponsored by the CED. It was an important landmark for the village as it was the first New Year they had celebrated since the tsunami. The village was in bad need of an event like this to lift their community spirits. Phil and I were really fortunate to have been invited and welcomed by the community and even, as was the case with this beauty pageant, asked to judge competitions and award prized. The villagers, despite suffering emotionally and financially from the tsunami, take such pride in their appearance. Here, along with their love and pride of their children, this is no better demonstrated in this beauty contest.

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