Glistening under the scorching sun, the titanic Indian Ocean proves to be a soothing and scenic companion for a major part of the 238km-drive from Colombo to Hambantota. There are, however, still painful remnants of that fateful day more than six years ago when this quaint settlement ended up among the worst affected areas following one of the most horrific natural disasters in recent times.

Though finding its feet again, post the tsunami, has been the most difficult challenge faced by this largely fishing community, help has come from all over the world.

While the Japanese have funded a monument in remembrance of those who were lost forever, a towering statue of Buddha, there are a couple of villages that have been adopted by the Portuguese government. The biggest contribution, however, has come from a bunch of Chinese construction-workers, who have been chiefly responsible for propping up that single structure, the Mahinda Rajapakse International cricket stadium which has finally put Hambantota on not only the Sri Lankan but also the world cricket map.

Fighting for space amidst the plethora of World Cup-inspired artwork inside the international airport in Colombo, but nevertheless eye-catching, it is a simple board announcing a forthright message. ‘The first flight will take off from Hambontota in 2012’, it reads. And whenever it does fly out from the brand-new airport coming up here, one structure which stands a good chance of being visible from anywhere up in the sky is the gigantic score-board, which is mounted on one of the two grass-banks at Hambantota’s plush new stadium.