Foreigners helped immensely during 'tsunami'

Kapila Somaratne, Panadura Group Corr.

PANADURA: Foreigners helped us immensely during the tsunami. They assisted in numerous ways to rebuild the country devastated by tsunami, said Viharadhipathi of Malamullu temple Ven. Moragaskande Dharmaratne Thera.

The Thera was delivering an anusasana at the handing over of six houses for tsunami displaced families at Malamulla.

Ton Vander Krijiff (msc) an Executive Engineer of a International Company in Holland funded for the project. The Thera said Ton Van has set an example to the millionairs in our country by constructing six houses at Malamulla Panadura for six tsunami displaced families.

The Thera said tsunami housing problem could be solved if one millionair in our country construct a house for each family.

No politician has been invited to the ceremony. Only Mahasanga and the people of the area were invited.

3,000 families in the Panadura and Angulana areas lost their properties following tsunami.

The victim families rushed to the temples near by in search of assistance.

Public in the area initially helped the victims in various ways such as providing dry rations, foods, cloths etc. 250 persons temporarily stayed here. It is a shame to say in public, that the Panadura Divisional Secretary provided only four canned fish tins for them.

Ton Vander Krijiff performed a meritorious deed by constructing six houses at Euro 22000. We must pay tribute to Ton Vander and his wife for pioneering in this effort. They raised funds from their friends in Holland and constructed the housing project.

Ton Vander Krijiff said, he is not a stranger to Sri Lanka. He was one of the Engineering advisers to the Mahaweli Development Project. 'We were shocked in hearing the news and the following day began to collect funds from our friends for relief programs, he said.

"A 15-year boy who earn his living by washing motor vehicles in Holland was the first to assist toward this cause." he said.

He personally hand over the keys to each beneficiary family.

Sharvindanath Fernando, an Engineering advisor and SI Anil Masakorala, OIC Moratu Modera Police helped him select the site and constructed the housing project. Ton Vander promised to help the children beneficiaries receive their education.