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| Saturday, 14 June 2003 |
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One of the glaring deficiencies of the developing countries is the absence of basic amenities of life, food, clothing and shelter. In Sri Lanka, a good percentage of the needy people receive food and clothing at least sparingly, but shelter a roof above the head, is rather scarce. This phenomenon is often found in the villages far away in remote areas, but occasionally found close to the affluent cities where well-to-do people live. Sri Lanka-China Society identified such a neglected village in very close proximity to Mirigama and Gampaha. Six kilometers away from the Danovita junction on the Colombo-Kandy highway, on the top of a hill in a very pleasant surrounding is lying the hamlet Vana Mee Kanda. Forgotten and neglected by the rest of the society, the hamlet is a habitat for 46 families with a population of nearly 400. Scattered here and there are some temporary shanty type dwellings standing on rare spots of levelled land on the rocky ground. Nearly three years ago, the shrub jungles of the hill-top were cleared to construct a pre-school for the children of the village, who were deprived education facilities. Today they have a fully equipped pre-school and a play ground, which cost about Rs. 2 million. Their uniforms, shoes, books and a mid-day meal are all supplied by the donors. The rest of the few children attending schools outside the village are given a monthly scholarship of Rs. 300 - 400. Two water schemes are operated to supply drinking water for the entire village. All these facilities are made available by Sri Lanka - China Society with the donations granted by and NGO, Adpotie Sri Lanka in Belgium. The donors and organisers identified the housing problem as one which needs immediate attention. We managed to get the assistance of the few local philanthropists to construct ten houses for ten families, who just did not have a roof over their heads. Yet there are nearly 20 families, who need housing facilities. After a careful survey, Adoptie Sri Lanka from Belgium and Sri Lanka-China Society identified these 20 families to be given shelter. Each house will have two bedrooms, sitting room and a kitchen. The recipients will provide necessary manual labour to complete the 20 houses by the end of year. A simple traditional ceremony of laying the foundation of all these houses will take place on the hill-top of Vana Mee Kanda on June 15 Sunday at the auspicious time of 11.29 a.m. The next development required is the construction of 30 toilets in the village. This will follow the completion of the 20 houses. Thus the beautiful hamlet of Vana Mee Kanda, which emerges from the jungles of the hill-top will have a reasonable place in the community. Shelter to Vana Mee Kanda comes from Belgium. The Buddhist Shrine room constructed by the side of the pre-school and the bo-saplin brought from Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura planted near the play-ground will bestow blessings on the hill-top village. Amaradasa Gunawardana |
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