Lifting the future generation of the East

Maalu Maalu and Reconstruire et Vivre:

Demi HEWAMANNA

Reconstruire et Vivre (Rebuild and live), which is a not-for-profit association by Maalu Maalu Resorts and Spas owner Chandra Wickremasinghe and his wife Patricia recently opened a Computer and Language training center in a fishing village near Kalkudah for the students living there. In the location they chose to build this centre, there was once a school but the devastating Tsunami that struck in December 2004 destroyed the school killing 64 students.

Wickremasinghe and his family were in Hikkaduwa when the tsunami came and they stayed in a house thinking of the many lives that were breathing their last breath and sacrificing their lives while saving the life of others. It was after this that Wickremasinghe decided to give a helping hand and help the victims of the tsunami restart their life.

Reconstruire et Vivre was founded in January 2005 with the hopes of spreading love and care and help build a life all over again. Through this they aim to raise awareness for homeless people, working with people bringing underlined issues to surface and many more. Since they began their work they have rehabilitated and built dozen homes, transformed Tupppahiwatta village in Habaraduwa which the villagers renamed 'The French Garden', provided boats, grinding mills and jobs for livelihood, constructed three pre-schools in Boosa, Kataluwa and Ahangama all free of charge for the students.

Two more computer centers were opened in Boosa and Ahangama Bimbarama Temple with 20 computers each. The third one which was opened last week by Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamurthy Muralidharan, is equipped with 15 computers and lecture rooms that are air-conditioned and have a modern school outlook. They conduct a six month theory and practical course absolutely free of charge.

At the beginning, around 200 students had registered themselves but as they could not take every one in, they are waiting for the first batch of students to finish their course and so the ones in the waiting list can begin. Another five computers are due to come soon and with that a total of Rs.8 million has been invested for this project.

The new center is a 15 minutes walking distance from the recently opened hotel by Chandra Maalu Maalu Resorts and Spas. The resort was opened in May and it provides employment to people surrounding the area and the hotel is to donate US$0.50 from every occupied room to the Center's Maintenance Fund.

Maalu Maalu initiated under the post war nagenahira nawodaya campaign was the fasted hotel to be built in the East Coastal area with largest investment and was constructed in just 10 months. People are already starting to holiday in the breathtaking resort and they have had a 78 percent occupancy from its operation day. Most of the 96 employees that are working there are from surrounding area and people who suffered from unemployment after war.

The night club - Club Jaadi - has the very attic type design and is built in a manner that sound does not travel to the chalets or to the road disturbing people.

There is also a jazz bar and a karaoke lounge for anyone who wants to sing their heart out and bring out a message from the heart.

Beautiful chef artwork through pumpkin and watermelon of various fish.

Batticaloa food promotion. Pictures by Saliya Rupesinghe

Club Jaadi

Maalu Maalu also hosted the 'Batticaloa food promotion' with an amazing selection seafood delicates such as Batticaloa Motti (oysters), lagoon crabs, prawns, Marawalli Wella Iraal Curry (manioc white curry with shrimps), Murunga Elai Sundal (drumstick leaves) and Babath curry.