Vietnamese Buddhists to help build houses for tsunami victims
 

From Hassina Leelarathna in Los Angeles

A Vietnamese Buddhist group signed an agreement on March 12 with the Jathika Veera Padanama (National Heroes 'Foundation of Sri Lanka) to provide funds to build 1,000 houses for Sri Lanka's tsunami victims.

Ven. Dr. Maduluwave Sobitha Thera inked the agreement with The Compassionate Service Society's (CSS) founder Master Ce Hang Truong at a ceremony at a private residence in Huntington Beach, an affluent Los Angeles suburb that adjoins an area called 'Little Saigon'.

Ven. Pallabage Chrandrasiri, Thera Chief Incumbent of the Oregon Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sanghanayake of the USA and Gamini Premasiri, acting Sri Lankan Consul General of Los Angeles were present at the ceremony attended by about 40 Vietnamese Americans.

The CSS has pledged to raise the $2 million needed to construct the 1,000 homes, which will be built in clusters of 100, in 10 villages. Jathika Veera Padanama is collaborating with Sama International Consortium on this project.

Master Truong a Buddhist monk ordained under the Chinese tradition, said by building houses for the tsunami victims the Vietnamese Buddhist group was also sharing grief and building compassion.

CSS has made an ongoing commitment to Sri Lanka which was not limited to the housing project, he said. Ven. Sobitha Thera pledged to get the project completed by the end of 2005 but cautioned that there was a shortage of labour and material and that things did not move fast in Sri Lanka.

"Please don't look at us through American eyes," he said.

Master Truong and two CSS members visited the tsunami- hit areas in January. During the trip, they learned of a project launched by the Jathika Veera Padanama to build 1,000 houses and decided to provide financial support.

Master Truong and about 15 members of the group will be in Sri Lanka in early April to witness the ground-breaking ceremony for a housing community in Hambantota district.