Assistance to Floods affected Families

Joint Appeal of Dharmavijaya Foundation and Red Lotus Humanitarian Organisation to assist families acutely affected by the Recent Floods in Sri Lanka

Although the end of the world did not occur as predicted by some, Sri Lanka experienced a very devastating week caused by the worsening flood havoc caused by the reactivation of the North East Monsoon. It is forecast that this inclement weather situation will continue this week as well.

The Sunday Times of 23 December had this to say:

 “The early warning centre of the Meteorology Department yesterday issued a bad weather advisory on the reactivation of the Northeast monsoon as the death toll from severe weather reached 30 with more than 300,000 people being seriously affected.

 “The prevailing adverse rainy conditions that have triggered flash floods and landslides had left some 50,000 people displaced by yesterday, the Disaster Management Centre said.

 “Heavy showers are expected in the North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces, the eastern slopes of the central hills and the Hambantota district,” Meteorology Department Director General S. H. Kariyawasam said. He said some other areas also might experience heavy rain with a cloudy atmosphere and occasional rains countrywide. This pattern would continue for at least another week.

“According to the DMC, the most affected districts are Anuradhapura, Ampara, Badulla, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Moneragala, Matale, Mullaitivu, Nuwaraeliya, Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Trincomalee.

“The highest number of deaths was reported from Matale district with nine deaths followed by Kandy, Badulla and Polonnaruwa. Yesterday another eighty people were immediately evacuated as four houses at Indulgodakanda and Walpolakanda in Kurunegala were completely buried in sand as a result of a landslide. Another 18 houses are in danger. An earthslip at the 18 hairpin-bend yesterday also resulted in traffic congestion on the Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road.”

There are many calls from the affected areas for assistance to reconstruct their lives. Although the death toll is not as great as during the tsunami of 2004, the devastation is over a larger area because of flash floods and land slides. We need your assistance to help those affected as in the past and we would be grateful to receive any funds, which will be duly receipted and acknowledged.

As immediate relief we are planning to send 1000 dry ration packs to 1000 families at the cost of Rs. 450 a pack. Each Pack will contain the following items: Rice – 2 kilos,Dhal – 500 grams, Tea – 100 grams, Sugar – 1 kilo, Biscuit – 2 packets, Salt – 1 packet, Onions – 500 grams, Paracetamol – 2 cards. The total Project will cost Rs. 475,000/- including packing, transport and distribution cost.

Furthermore, the Government has decided to provide Rs. 100,000/- per family of those whose houses have been completely devastated. This needs supplementation. Ven Matale Amarawansa Thera, Hon President of the Nattandiya Bodhiraja Dharmavijaya Samajaya, is in Matale, one of the worst affected areas, at our request to identify the most deserving families for assistance. He reported that there are 1658 persons in 10 camps in the Rattota area alone. We are planning to provide Rs. 50,000/- per family and as in the tsunami we shall closely monitor and report progress. With every one million rupees 20 families could be assisted.

Please come forward to assist at this hour of need and national calamity.

Yours sincerely

Olcott Gunasekera
 President, Dharmavijaya Foundation &
 President, Red Lotus Humanitarian Organisation.

DVF Account – Bank of Ceylon, Borella A/c No.192310 Swift Code : BCEYLKLX
People’s Bank, Borella A/c No. 078100122268540Swift Code : PSBKLKLX

Red Lotus Account – Sampath Bank, ThimbirigasyayaA/c No.0034 6000 0415
Swift Code: BSAMLKLX