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| Saturday, 26 February 2005 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi Thillairajah Kukendran, a chartered engineer now domiciled in Canada has come forward to help the people affected by the tsunami waves. During his stay in Sri Lanka, Kukendran has distributed cash donations and other assistance amounting to Rupees one million for the tsunami victims in the South. He plans to launch a long-term project to help the tsunami victims. "I am planning to launch a scholarship program for helping the school children affected by the tsunami," said Kukendran. Kukendran visited the tsunami affected areas in Ambalangoda, Paraliya, Telwatta, Matara and Galle. "I talked to the affected families and distributed money for over 50 families, charity services and organisations helping the tsunami victims." Kukendran who arrived in Sri Lanka after 20 years visited tsunami affected areas in the South during the last few days and handed over cash donations and other relief materials to the displaced. "I wanted to come here and collect first hand information about the devastation caused by tsunami, said Kukendran adding that he wanted to provide assistance himself without going through another third party. Kukendran, an old Royalist is the Vice President of the Matcor Group of Companies in Canada, involved in automotive and non-automotive parts manufacturing. The company has eight manufacturing plants with nearly 1500 workforce. Kukendran came to know about the tsunami disaster when he and his family was preparing to hold a grand party to celebrate his birthday on December 27. "It was too late to cancel the party and we decided to have it as a social gathering and my daughter suggested to give all the gifts to the tsunami victims. Besides, colleagues at my office too helped me." "On the same day, my wife Rita, two sons Pratheep and Ratheep and daughter Deepthi decided to contribute one million Rupees for helping the tsunami victims." Kukendran's family was in Sri Lanka June last year. They had visited South. "They identified the places affected by tsunami over the television and wanted to help the affected people." Thereafter, Kukendran got in touch with the organisations engaged in relief work in Sri Lanka. "They told me that they cannot hand over the aid to particular places mentioned by me and I decided to come here myself to hand them over." Before came here, Kukendran had informed his plans to his brother-in-law Dr. U. Kunasingham who is in England. "He told me that his son Dr. Kumar Kunasingham and Dr. Marline Wijeyaratne will be joining me to help the tsunami victims." Thereafter, Kukendran got in touch with his long-standing friends Sanath Gunathilake and Rosy and Athula Senanayake in order to arrange his visit to Sri Lanka. Kukendran arrived in Sri Lanka in the first week of February while his nephew Dr. Kumar Kunasingham and his friend Dr. Marline Wijeyaratne arrived a few days back. During his visit to the South with Sanath Gunathilake, Kukendran met Minister of Ports and Aviation and Information and Media and Deputy Minister of Education Mangala Samaraweera and discussed providing continuous support and financial assistance to the tsunami victims. He has got special plans to help the students of the Paraliya Sri Jinarathana Maha Vidyalaya affected by tsunami. "We met the Education authorities and they also pledged their support to us. My plan is to launch a Trust Fund for helping the students of this school." "Besides, I have got several long-term plans to help the tsunami victims." he added. He emphasised that the victims should be provided with proper shelter, facilities and foods. "They need immediate help. I know that the Government is doing its best. Also, individuals and organisations should help those affected people." said Kukendran. Gunathilake who accompanied Kukendran appreciated the support extended by Southern Province Governor Kingsley T. Wickramaratne to help the tsunami affected students in the Galle area. He provided financial assistance to affected families in Matara. |
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