‘I think it’s an excellent idea. These children—many of them have never been to school. They will need an education—and not just the children, the adults may need help too. If they’ve come from war …’ Rajan’s voice trailed off. He hadn’t spoken so much in a long time.

‘Yes, I think that’s right. It’s a hard one, though; contentious in Australia. We have to be conscious of all of our members, although I suppose this is the right chapter of the Club to support the issue,’ Michael said, looking around at the attendees enjoying the range of Australian cuisines.

‘You know, if you ignored the politicians, and asked people, most of us would want to help refugees—the genuine refugees; the ones who are fleeing war, the way you did,’ Michael continued. ‘Siva told me about your family. We’ve been friends for a long time.’

‘We were lucky. We left before things became really bad. It was much worse for others,’ Rajan replied.

‘Yes, but the war is over now, isn’t it. Why are people still leaving?’ Michael asked. ‘It’s just that there are people in danger that we can’t even help. And some people who come on boats are fleeing poverty rather than danger. Their need isn’t as great as other boat people or asylum seekers—there are so many, we have to prioritise them somehow. That probably sounds awful to you, doesn’t it?’ Michael stopped, suddenly appearing like a self-conscious old man instead of a self-assured Rotarian.

It was an important question. The war had ended and the Sri Lankan government was ostensibly rebuilding the north rapidly. The government was constructing roads, airports and harbours in the north and east. It was creating the tools it needed to regain control of the region. The militarisation of the north accelerated, but development of the rest of the infrastructure was slow; some thought deliberately so.

Congratulatory aid from international allies was invested into constructing new Sinhalese communities on top of old Tamil ones. The army appropriated land and businesses. Tamil families that were not living in refugee camps were living by the wayside of their former homes, watching as the government waited for neglect to kill them.

For the refugees in camps, it was worse. Anyone suspected of being a Tiger or Tiger supporter was taken away and rarely returned. The soldiers had set up a section for themselves and the female refugees of their choice. Families traded what they could for information about loved ones, and if they were lucky, a secret passage out of the camps. The war was over but the dying hadn’t stopped.