Scene adjacent to the Country boat - Catamaran building facility - In Inbarutty, near Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

To sire, what best requital can by grateful child be done?
To make men say, 'What merit gained the father such a son?

(So to act) that it may be said "by what great penance did his father beget him," is the benefit which a son should render to his father - Thirukurall [70]

Caramaran:
Pronunciation: "ka-t&-m&-'ran, 'ka-t&-m&-"ran
Function: noun
Etymology: Tamil kattumaram, from kattu to tie + maram tree, wood: a vessel (as a sailboat) with twin hulls and usually a deck or superstructure connecting the hulls.
From: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

"I pay Rs. 800 per day. Most of the young men earn less than Rs. 800 per day. But young men are not willing to come and learn how to make a country boat. I think that making a country boat is a very difficult job than others.

"Making country boat is an art. It's a very hard and tiresome job.Everybody can't make it. I have been doing this for more than twenty fove years now" says 55 years old Velum Mylum Visvalingam form Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district, North of Sri Lanka.

9 foot country boat is sold for Rs. 13,000. 12 foot country boat is sold for Rs. 25,000. 18 1/2 foot county baot is sold for Rs. 50,000. This is the standard size normally used for fishing in the deep sea.

Wood logs being cut to make country boats.

There are only 12 country boat building sites in Jaffna peninsula, according to fishing authorities.

49 years old Sinnaiyah Thavarajah shapes the log for the country boat.

A log is being measured.

"I earn Rs. 800 per day, but it's not sufficient enough to look after my family. I have seven children to take care. All are going to the school" says 53 years old Murugan Jeyam.

62 years old Sinnathamby Sothilingam measures the log.

62 years old Sinnathamby Sothilingam, and 53 years old Murugan Jeyam.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.

Country boat building site in Inbarutty in Point Pedro, Jaffna district North of Sri Lanka.