December 1, 2003 After two decades of bloody civil war caused by deep-seated ethnic animosity, Sri Lanka is now enjoying peaceful quietness as the ceasefire reached last year is holding, albeit barely. The ethnic conflict, however, has inflicted lasting damage on the lives of the Sri Lankan people. The scars it has left are everywhere to be seen. Attan Bagaskado, a 38-year-old Sinhalese monk, is one witness to Sri Lanka's sufferings. Seven years ago, when he was working for a local NGO helping domestic refugees who had lost their homes in the war, he brought home a 15-month-old abandoned baby. His temple has since become a place to turn to for single parents, people who are raising the children of their dead relatives, and others who are too poor to look after the children in their care. Bagaskado is now taking care of some 70 children, including those whom he met through welfare activities and personally took in. According to Bagaskado, some children saw their parents killed by bombs right in front of their eyes. One boy is suffering a tremendous trauma from the death of his mother who killed herself after being assaulted by insurgents. There are children who suddenly jump out of bed in fear in the middle of the night. All these children have not fully recovered from the psychological shock they suffered, he says. "I believe the shock will abate over time, though, as the children live together and interact with one another." Bagaskado, however, admits that he is having a hard time bringing up some children, citing the example of a 10-year-old girl named Koman, whose mother was a beggar. The girl has a bad habit of stealing things and lying even when she is caught stealing. He gave her a severe scolding once when it was found out that she had stolen some money and spent it on food. She was unfazed and unrepentant, however, and continued to steal. She always looks disheveled, too, never washing her clothes or doing her hair. "I'm at a loss how I can change her. I think I have done everything possible to teach her what is right and wrong, complimenting her whenever she does the right thing," he sighs. The children's emotional wounds are hard to heal, and helping them deal with their problems is an endless challenge. Bagaskado is now considering the idea of entrusting the children to the experts' care. That, he thinks, might be in their best interest after all. (Published in EMERGENCY NURSING, December 2003 issue)