Help for Lanka's tsunami victims

TSUNAMI Disaster Re-build Sri Lanka Foundation (TDRSLF) was formed on the day of the tsunami to assist the people in the Southern Province, especially Galle District, since the founder members had a direct or indirect interest to Galle.

The first task was to provide relief assistance by means of the provision of foods, clothing and medical facilities to the affected areas, funded by members and well wishers. Various individuals and organisations that wanted to participate in the relief operation in the Galle District provided relief assistance through the Foundation.

Whilst the immediate task of relief creations seems to have been accomplished, much more need to be done with regard to the provision of shelter, assisting in the creation of employment, assisting in the educational activities and the provision of other amenities.

Having successfully accomplished the relief operations, the founder members having the desire to assist in the next phase of reconstruction and rebuilding Sri Lanka, for those affected by the tsunami and other events, considered it appropriate to assist in any part of Sri Lanka, but to concentrate in the Southern Province due to the familiarisation and knowledge of the region and a sense of belonging.

Some of the activities of the Foundation initiated, implemented and is in progress are, providing immediate relief assistance; coordinating a two week project with Association Internationale Des Enfants de la Rue (AIDER) of France by conducting a medical camp, re-building a bridge, restoring purified drinking water for a village which did not have drinking water for 15 years, donating medical needs to the Southern Province Health Ministry' commencing a housing project with AIDER to build 15 houses which would cost approximately Rs. 3.75 million; providing four fishing boats to fishermen from Murampitigoda costing approximately Rs. 0.5 million and having negotiations with the assistance of the Government of France and Alliance Francaise for the first phase to re-build the Galle Habaraduwa Abeydhana Kanista Vidyalaya at a cost of Rs. 7.0 million and discussions for the second phase which too would cost approximately Rs. 7.0 million.

Meanwhile a UK based Sri Lanka Social Organisation has financed for self-employment projects of Rs. 425,000 for a total commitment of Rs. 1.0 million, a US based organisation has agreed to finance approximately Rs. 2.5 million for relief work in the Galle district; and a proposal has been submitted to TJ International for various projects costing approximately US dollars 830,000.