Sports Centre at Nilaveli for tsunami affected children

An inter-cultural sports centre for children affected by the tsunami will be set up in Nilaveli, Trincomalee in May, 2005.

Children between the ages of 6 to 14 years of all three communities Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim will take part in football, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and swimming. A playground for the children too will be constructed.

The children will be able to overcome the trauma of losing their family members to the tsunami tidal waves by taking part in these sports activities. It will also help to bring about friendship and understanding between the children of the three communities. The idea of setting up an inter-cultural sports centre was mooted by former MP for Trincomalee District M.S.

Thowfeek who has obtained the help of a non-governmental organisation Peace Village International. A landed proprietor from Nilaveli J. Ansar has donated a plot of land to build the sports centre at the request of Mr. Thowfeek.

Nico Helms from Bremen, Germany is the Chief Co-ordinator of the Project and he is being assisted by Nicole Baudisch and Marisa Michels, both from Germany.