"Returning to Sri Lanka after nearly a year has given rise to mixed emotions. As we travel the length of the south coast there are many signs of the positive changes that have been achieved since the Tsunami struck devastating so much of Sri Lanka's coastline. Permanent homes are cropping up along the main road and in the seaside villages to replace the transitional shelters which have been home to many of those displaced for more than a year. And Oxfam's presence is significant, illustrated by the many impressive livelihood projects we have seen giving people the chance to start new businesses or revive old ones wiped out by the Tsunami. Close to Galle we see a school being rebuilt by Oxfam partners for over a thousand students who are being taught in temporary shelters but from December will be in the new buildings. And there is a sense of normality returning which was missing on previous visits.

In stark contrast I am saddened and troubled by the news which comes from the north and east where security concerns have prohibited us from visiting. This was the heartland of Oxfam's Tsunami work which I saw implemented throughout 2005 - there was a real sense of positive change by the end of the year and this optimism appears to have been blown away by the increase in violence.

We hear stories of thousands of families on the move fleeing the fighting, including in Vaharai, north of Batticaloa, where I'd seen Oxfam work so effectively in the aftermath of the Tsunami but is now an area Oxfam staff cannot reach. Knowing how quickly the local staff responded after the Tsunami I know they will reach these displaced people when it's at all possible.

And then yesterday afternoon we visited a heart-lifting project run by an Oxfam partner International War Related Trauma and Humanitarian Intervention Trust (IWTHI) has extended its work with conflict affected families to support families traumatized by the Tsunami. Many NGOs have responded well to the material needs of those affected by the Tsunami. However IWTHI offer psychological support in hand with small scale livelihood projects, believing a sound economic basis is essential if families are to benefit from their psycho-social support.

For many survivors they have had to come to face immense grief with the loss of close family but there have been many other traumatic effects. We met three families who have been assisted as part of IWTHI's psycho-social program - each had clearly benefited from the professional support given by IWTHI's counselors, all of whom are locally trained staff.

Late in the day we met Malini and her four young sons in a small village on the coast. The family had received assistance from ITWHI enabling them to set up a small business offering them a degree of economic security. Lakshiha, their fourteen year old son, had been deeply traumatised by witnessing the Tsunami and had developed a deep fear of the sea which had meant he had had to move from his seaside school. Through counseling with an ITWHI social worker and after attending one of their three day 'Yes I can !' camps, where up to forty children learn to rebuild their confidence through drama, singing and games, Lakshiha had been able to come to terms with some of his fears. Proudly showing us the small tree he had been given by ITWHI, "I can grow like this tree now - I feel good about the changes and much happier now. They have taught me how to cope with the challenges of the future.""