Sri Lanka: Forced to abandon a life's work

Before the fighting came, elderly farmer Ganeshan says his life was "fairly comfortable", happily working his 14-acre plot daily to feed his family.

But, as Sri Lanka's conflict grew ever closer to his farm in Puthukkudiyiruppu, he knew this happiness could not last. When his house was damaged by shellfire, it was time to go – forced to abandon his life's work.

"I am a farmer who never dreamt that I will have to depend on anybody for my food," the 62-year-old says. ""But there was no way we could have stayed there any longer." Read more ...