Feb
12: Sri Lanka Fund, a registered nonprofit organization
based in California, has donated sufficient funds to complete
the new addition that will safely house communication equipment
donated by ICTA to the Andaragasyaya school in Kirinda.
Sri Lanka Fund was registered just three days after the
tsunamis hit Sri Lanka. It brings together expatriate businessmen
and professionals on a purely voluntary basis to conduct
long-term relief efforts in tsunami-affected areas. All
donations go towards aid for tsunami victims, and administrative
expenses are picked up by the organizers personally.
In addition to its support of the Andaragasyaya primary
school in Kirinda, the organization recently secured property
from the government in the town of Iduruwa (south of Bentota)
where it plans to build 40 houses. The property, which is
only 150 meters inland, was picked over many other properties
as it lay close to the damaged houses of the intended recipients.
This decision was made to minimize the change in tsunami
victims’ lives and to help fishermen live closer to
sea, where they must work every day.
On February 6th, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the
foundation stone to begin construction on this project,
which organizers hope to complete by July. More information
about these efforts can be found at Sri Lanka Fund’s
website.
