Bhaila praises Gift of Givers Foundation

THE Gift of the Givers Foundation of South Africa was in Sri Lanka in less than 24 hours after the tsunami and several trucks of relief were on its way to the affected area, said Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Hussein A. Bhaila.

The Foundation in partnership with a leading company in Sri Lanka, Brandix gave 2000 tents, the Minister said and added that the foundation operates with minimum administrative costs.

He was speaking at a ceremony in honour of the Chairman and Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, South Africa Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman who arrived in Sri Lanka recently to inspect the construction site at Pottuvil where the foundation is building houses for the tsunami victims.

Local liaison office hosted the ceremony at Galadari Hotel where Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and businessmen attended.

The Reader's Digest refers to Dr. Sooliman as "Dr who never stops giving." Dr. Sooliman, inspired by the saying "best among people are those who benefit mankind" says that Gift of the Givers serve all - regardless of class, creed or religion.

The foundation is building houses in Pottuvil on a land allocated by the President through TAFREN and UDA. The houses will be completed by November.

Dr. Sooliman said he would visit Sri Lanka again to personally hand over the houses.

The delay in construction, the local coordinator said was due to poor logistics and the water crisis.