Shelters for tsunami victims

The Wadduwa Lions Club has provided shelter to four families in Payagala. Along with the contributions make available by the Lions of District A 5 region 17 in North Bay Onterio, Canada.

It all began when the President of Ferris Lions Club, Lion Ratne Baddage who also is the Chairman of the Committee in the region to assist Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the dreadful tsunami of December 26, 2004, contacted Lion M.P. Perera of the Lions to help, identify and coordinate beneficiaries for the assistants, the Canadian Lions and well-wishers were envisaging to raise in February.

Consequently a Committee for coordination, planning and implementation was appointed under the chairmanship of Lion M.P. Perera with Lion President Ananda Perera and immediate Past President Lion Mangala Perera.

The proceedings commenced immediately. Lion Baddage himself with his Lion lady Dr. Loshani came down to see the beneficiaries chosen at Payagala and were satisfied with the recipients chosen conforming to the Government's specifications on restructuring and rehabilitation of tsunami affected families.

The Canadians have successfully ventured into two fund raising endeavours launched by Lion Baddage and the Committee Secretary Lion Jean Kamachi with Shirantha Baddage, spearheading a musical extravaganza initially. Funds totalling Rupees 1.8 million was remitted in to the Wadduwa Lions special account, which made the endeavour much easier for Wadduwa Lions to complete the four houses of the selected beneficiaries within the targeted time frame.

Construction commenced in May 2005 with the foundation stone laying by the Governor Lion Paddy Withana of Lions District 306A and completed and handed over on July 23 by the new Governor Lion Lalith de Silva.