Tsunami shadow over Sri Lanka poll

By Dumeetha Luthra BBC correspondent, southern Sri Lanka

Rebuilding is taking place, a year after the tsunami

Voters in Sri Lanka's Sinhala-majority south will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the 17 November presidential election.

The region was one of the areas worst hit when the tsunami struck the island on 26 December last year.

More than 30,000 people were killed and millions made homeless along the island's southern and eastern coasts.

Despite billions of dollars in assistance, the government has been criticised for its progress on reconstruction, and post-tsunami recovery is a key election issue.

Struggle to recover

Fishermen are amongst the poorest in Sri Lanka.

Fishermen protested in Colombo in October

Surviving from the sea has always been difficult and it got worse after the tsunami.

Many lost their homes and their boats.

Now Shan Rukman makes a living selling other people's catches.

He lives in Unawatuna along the southern coastline, which suffered badly in the tsunami. It's been a struggle to recover.

He's not optimistic that things are going to change.

"What I'm saying is I don't care whether it is a garment factory or a government which comes to power as long as it does something good for us," he says.

"All I care about is the fisheries community."

'Let down'

Help has arrived and is still arriving, often provided by non-governmental organisations.

Only people from charities have helped us - no one else has come forward Fisherman's leader NA Sumanadasa

But many feel the government has let them down.

NA Sumanadasa, who chairs the fisherman's committee in Unawatuna, say the tsunami has made them helpless.

"We have nothing left. We don't have a source of income, no one has heard our cry," he says.

"It's really hard to recover our old lives. Only people from charities have helped us - no one else has come forward."

With millions made homeless, shelter has been a priority.

But the government's ban on reconstruction along the shore has led to delays and confusion.

The opposition have used the issue to try to win support, although people are cynical that it is nothing more than campaign rhetoric.

Reconstruction is going on, but along the shore many destroyed homes have not been rebuilt because under the buffer zone they are too close to the sea.

Now just before elections, the policy is under review.

People here say their future has become part of a political game.

PM's heartland

In Hambantota some 4,000 homes are being built. But there have been accusations of political favouritism.

This is the electoral heartland of Mahinda Rajapakse, the government's presidential candidate.

Mr Rajapakse's electoral base is in the south

Nimal is a tsunami survivor who's living in the new development. He's an ardent supporter of the prime minister.

"This government and Mahinda Rajapakse should win this election," he told the BBC.

"A different candidate wouldn't finish what's been started here.

"Only if Mahinda wins will this work continue. I hope and pray Mahinda wins."

The tsunami was the worst natural disaster Sri Lanka has experienced. Reconstruction efforts have become entangled in election manoeuvring.

The victims hope things will improve - the politicians all promise they will.