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| Tuesday, 22 February 2005 |
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French marathon tour to help tsunami victims A French marathon tour organised by Walkers Tours and SDPO France (Organisation of Sports Development and Performance) under the theme 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' in order to assist those affected by the tsunami disaster is scheduled to be held from 21st February to 2nd March 2005. Featuring over sixty marathon specialists between the ages of 35-60 years, the group will cover about 15-21 kilometres per day on average and their tour would span the remote areas of our country including Habarana, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya and Negombo. Walkers Tours, a fully owned subsidiary of the John Keells Holdings Group in association with SDPO France will conduct this program for the second consecutive year. There will be four main projects that would be spearheaded through this marathon in order to assist the victims of the tsunami. The first project was a donation of 7,000 Euros (approx. Rs. 900,000) to the Mahanayake of the Kelaniya temple on the 18th of February in order to reconstruct two houses in Hambantota which were damaged or destroyed due to tsunami. On 21st February a group of five delegates from Eurocopter will be visiting the coastal areas in the South east and North East of the island to provide aid to the people who have lost their properties and belonging in this disaster. Approximately 20,000 Euros is budgeted for this project and will be donated for the rebuilding of lives in order to move on with their livelihood. They will also expand their services to schools that urgently require assistance and need of accessories to proceed with their education.-computers, tables, chairs etc. The third project with an expected donation of around 350,000 Euros to 500,000 Euros by the SDPO in collaboration with Eurocopter a well-known corporate in the European region will be utilised for the rebuilding of houses in the devastated areas. This is one of the special campaigns organised by Eurocopter and SDPO France consolidating their support and co-operation to our country. Finally there will also be a consignment of items to the extent of 300 kg which would arrive by the end of February for the consumption and utilisation of infants and children who survived this catastrophe. Last year's marathon under the banner 'Tourism in the Rural Areas' comprised of over fifty semi-professionals and was a huge success. Thus this year too SDPO France has expressed its pleasure in conducting a similar tour in Sri Lanka. The president of SDPO France and Les Foulees du Sri Lanka Jean Claude Le Cornec, who was also one of the main organisers of the Paris Dakar Rally in the past years has been extremely influential in organising this relief campaign as he is a keen lover of our country and wishes to render his utmost co-operation and support at this timely hour of need. While having the noble cause of assisting the victims of this natural disaster as their main focus and objective the event is also set to bring local as well as international recognition for the Sri Lankan tourism industry. The wide ranging publicity that is expected locally and internationally, especially in the French media will be of significant promotional value to the Sri Lankan tourism industry as well as to the country on the whole. |
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