Families were out together in the sunshine. A big group of boys were splashing about in the water, whooping and waving to onlookers, delighted with all the attention they were getting. It was great to be part of the fun. One little family asked to take my picture with their little boy.
I gestured to the group of girls to ask if I could take a photo of them sitting on the wall with the waterfall in the background, but they seemed very unsure. One of them got off the wall. Then another said yes it was okay. She and her friend looked at the camera and the others turned away.
Afterwards, the braver girl beckoned for me to join them. She said not to put the photo on Facebook. I promised.
Suddenly, they were all around me, smiling, friendly and full of questions. What do you do? Do you have children? Where are you from? They took photos with me, lots of selfies! I showed them pictures of our children and they wanted to know what their jobs were.
I couldn't get away. They loved putting their arms around me as much as I enjoyed being with them. They seemed sad to let me go.
The girls are all at university in Sri Lanka, studying business management, but none seemed to think she will work after her degree.
I feel so sad for these young women. Sri Lanka must be the most difficult country in the world to live in wearing black from head to toe! They are surrounded by beautiful, smiling, graceful girls, with swinging plaits down to their waists, wearing vibrant saris, sarongs or western dress. Pink, orange, turquoise, gold - even the boys and men wear brightly coloured sarongs.
There may be some kind of freedom to be experienced as a woman, in denying others the opportunity of looking at you as an object of desire, but it felt more like oppression this morning.
I'd love to share a photo of their faces with you but I daren't, and that says it all.
I'm praying for each of them, but especially the two braver girls. Praying for hope. Praying for freedom.
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