New 2-storey building for Polathumodara school

The Polathumodara school, situated in Weligama, provides education for seven hundred students between 5 and 18 years old. Most of them are living in the area of Weligama or surroundings, which was badly affected by tsunami and they generally come from families with poor financial backgrounds. This school has a histories going back more than 700 years.

Even already before the tsunami this school was lacking adequate facilities and due to several new housing projects in the area the SLRT decided to help this school improving their infrastructure. Due to the lack of a proper space they had to conduct six classes within one building. The available classes go from grade 1 up to advanced level including even art and commerce subjects.

The foundation stone for a new 2-storey building was laid September 9, 2006. One year later August 4, 2007, a fully furnished and equipped building was handed over to the school authorities. The new 2-storey building contains 8 classrooms, a science lab, a library and various activity rooms all are provided including furniture, books, equipments and sanitary installations.

The official opening ceremony was held under the auspices of the Minister of Agriculture Development, Honourable Chamal Rajapakesa in presence of Southern Province Chief Minister, Chairman of Weligama Local Government Authority, Matara Assistant Divisional Secretary, Education Department officers, SLRT trustees, SLRT officers , Loadstar employees, school teachers, students and parents. The School Prefect, Principal, Honourable Chamal Rajapakesa, in his speech, thanked the SLRT for their valuable effort in order to improve Sri Lanka’s education facilities.

With the opening and handing over of the 2-storey building for the Polathumodara school, the SLRT has completed with success its ambitious programme, including:

• set-up of 4 temporary camps
• repair of 163 fishing boats,
• repair of 315 engines,
• distribution of 1,133 fishing nets,
• building of 20 new fishing boats,
• construction of 726 permanent houses,
• repairing of 5 schools and constructing new buildings in 2 schools,
• recovery livelihood for 339 people,
• implementation of psychosocial and counselling programmes.


Thanks to the generous contributions of various companies, organisations, schools, so many individuals and large organisations like the French Red Cross, Belgian Red Cross (Flanders and French), Lions Club Belgium MD 112, Belgian Do-It-Yourself Association (BDA), Belga Press Agency, SLRT was able to achieve its rehabilitation programme. Before the entire completion of the SLRT programme, the trustees already had decided to create a new foundation, Building a Future Foundation, to address a major social problem in the South which they had come across during the implementation. Building a Future Foundation (BAF) is a special purpose foundation that is established with the sole and only purpose to create a future for the youth along the coastal areas affected by tsunami by bringing in new activities, technologies, skills and trainings in order to generate such economic activities and employment opportunities. Target is to create employment for 180 youth over a period of 3 years.

Kotawilla housing scheme and its residents are nearing one year of completion

The Kotawilla housing scheme has been completed for nearly one year. Many of the houses have very beautiful gardens with flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The Green Movement, a NGO, helped improve the gardens in the housing scheme with donations of bulbs, seeds, plants, and trees. The community now takes pride in their landscaping, keeping their yards well maintained and free of debris.

Some of the house holders express ideas:

Ms. Wickermasuriya is 49 years old and living in the Kotawilla housing scheme. She is a housewife and her husband is a three wheel driver. She has two daughters and two sons. “Before the Tsunami we lived near Weligama town and our house was washed away by the Tsunami. After that we lived in the Pathegama camp for a year and a half. We got houses from SLRT on 6th April 2006 at this housing scheme. This is a new experience and all members of our family live in the village. We had some space between our houses and built a small room to adjoin them and started a shop. Kotwilla housing scheme residents and neighbors are our customers. Now we are settled down in the area very well Thanks to SLRT, Now we have a new house with furniture and our own business”

Ms. Geetha is also one of the house holders in the Kotawilla housing scheme. She has a beautiful garden with lots of flowers. “I have two sons and one daughter and my husband is a fish seller. In the morning time I make coir robes with neighbors to earn extra income. Thanks to SLRT”

100 housing scheme opening December 26, 2006

Polatumodara housing scheme is situated on top of a nice hill in Weligama. This is the largest housing scheme build by SLRT. The construction started May11, 2006 and reached completion and was hand over to beneficiaries December 26, 2006.

A pre–school, community centre, Grama Sewaka office, play area, commercial area, library, vocational training centre, computer training centre and an environmental management unit are also part of the housing scheme.

SLRT and ITN, Peoples Bank and Lakhada (Radio channel) Rehabilitation Trust provided the furniture for the houses. Opening ceremony was a colourful event with the Minister of Agriculture Development Mr. Chamal Rajapakesa and Minister of Cultural and National Heritage Mr. Mahinda Yapa Abeygunawardena as chief guests amongst Private Secretary of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Port and Aviation Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Government officers, SLRT Trustees, SLRT officers, Loadstar employees and beneficiaries.

Both Ministers, Matara District Secretary and one of beneficiaries delivered a speech. All of them thanked the SLRT for their valuable effort for uplifting the living condition of tsunami affected people in the area.

Two of benefices express their thoughts about new houses:

“My name is Sunil, I am fisherman. My family counts seven members. Three daughters and two sons. Two daughters finished their education and the other daughter is two years old. Two sons go to the Polatumodara School (School developed by SLRT). We lived at Modarawatta, Weligama. Everything was washed away by the tsunami. After the tsunami we lived in a temple and later at a relative’s house. Finally we moved to a transitional house in Modarawatta. Thanks to SLRT, now we have a new house with furniture at the Polatumodara housing scheme. ”

“My name is Bandusiri, I am a fish seller. My family counts five members. Two sons and one daughter. Two sons go to Polatumodara School (School developed by SLRT) and our daughter has a job. We lived at Modarawatta, Weligama where every thing was destroyed by the tsunami. After the tsunami we also lived in a temple and a relative’s house. Now we have our own new house at Polatumodara housing scheme with all common facilities. For example pre–school, play area, library, computer training centre, vocational training centre and a commercial area. We are happy thanks to the SLRT. ”

DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOMBAGODA SCHOOL

Dombagoda School is located within the Galle district, 4 kilometers inside the country from the Galle- Matara main road. The school was founded 17 years ago and is mostly frequented by children with poor backgrounds.

Dombagoda School was not directed affected by the tsunami, however four different hosing schemes are in progress by NGOs for the by tsunami affected people only a few kilometers away from the school. Therefore the Dombagoda School needs to increase its capacity to approximately five hundred students or more within next three year. In addition the Dombagoda School wants to developed new facilities for the increasing number of students. Most of students came from very low income families.

The SLRT will improve the facilities at Dombagoda School in order to guarantee the present and future students a better education under better circumstances which will lay the foundation for the development of their future.

The new building with five additional classrooms opened November 16, 2006. The Galle district Education Department Officer, teachers, schoolchildren, parents, SLRT trustees and SLRT Officers participated in the opening ceremony.

Speeches were given by the Galle district Education Department Officer, principles, teacher, parents and two children. All of them thanked the SLRT extensively.

One of teachers expresses her view:

“I am S. Kumairi Liyanagama. I’m an old student of Dombagoda School and I’m also from the Dombagoda village. After I graduated at the Ruhuna University in Matara, I started teaching to grade 6, 7 and 8. Earlier classrooms were not separated from each other which create a lot of disturbance in the learning process of students. Some times I simply conducted my classes under a tree, because it was too difficulty to get the students’ attention. The SLRT helped our school a lot. Now we have new classrooms and the students have much more space and freedom to do their studies. If the SLRT did not help our school, it already could have been closed, because the school had only very poor facilities.”

One of the students expresses her view. Now she is studying in a new classroom.

“My name is Ruveni and I’m 11 years old. We are with five in our family. My father is a government officer and my mother is a house wife. Now we have new classrooms. We are all very happy.!”

Thanks to SLRT I have built my own house

My name is R.K.S. Hemantha. I am a driver and I have one son and school going daughter. She studies at the Weligama Dhrampala School.

Before the tsunami we lived in a house without proper facilities. On top of this most of our little belongings got lost in the tsunami. For a few weeks we stayed at a relative’s house and later on we moved to the Gurubewilla transitional camp.

Soon after this the SLRT assisted us to build our own new house. The SLRT provided material and cash step by step. I coordinated all construction work and did as much as I could myself in order to realize our dream. Of course under the inspection of the SLRT technical consultant.

Without the support from the SLRT we never would have had sufficient financial means to build our own house. This is a great help from SLRT! I like to tanks the SLRT for this valuable support.

Now we are living only four kilometres away from our previous house in a very peaceful environment.

MIRISSA HOUSING SCHEME

The Mirissa housing scheme is situated on top of a nice small hill near to Matara Galle main road. It has attractive view. It is one of most beautiful and functional tsunami housing schemes in the area. The housing scheme consists of 19 single storey houses. All houses have two bedrooms, a living and dining area, kitchen, shower and a toilet with water and electricity facilities. The beneficiaries originate from Mirissa and were living within the 35 meter buffer zone.

The ceremonial opening was held October 12, 2006. The beneficiaries organized a colorful opening ceremony in which a large crowed participated. Amongst the participants were Officers from Federation of the Red Cross, Officials from the Government of Sri Lanka, members and trustees of SLRT, beneficiaries and their relatives and friends, and BAF trainees. Officers from RADA (Reconstruction and Development Agency) and Matara District Secretariat thanked and appreciated the SLRT for its valuable contribution in the reconstruction and development of the by tsunami affected Galle and Matara district. One of the beneficiaries gave a speech on behalf of the others and thanked the SLRT.

Two beneficiaries express their gratitude:

Mr. P.S. Siripala is from Mirrisa. He is a fisherman and has three sons. Two sons are married and are living separately. Now he and wife are living together with the youngest. His youngest son is also a fisherman. Before the tsunami they lived very closed to the sea. Their previous house was located within the 35m buffer zone, where it is not allowed anymore to rebuild.

“We were living close to the sea. The tsunami inundated our house with water reaching 6 feet high. All house equipments got washed away. Now we have a new house with new furniture thanks to SLRT. We are fisherman. We can carry on with our jobs without any difficulty, just the same as before the tsunami occurred, because this housing scheme is close to the Galle – Matara main road and close to Mirissa Harbour. Our housing scheme is at a safe place on top of a hill where we do not have to fear a future tsunami. Thanks to SLRT we can peacefully sleep at night without any fear!”

Ms. Renuka Damayanthi is from Mirrisa. Her husband is also a fisherman. She has three children and two of them go to school. Renuka’s father is living with them.

“We lived too close to the sea and our house did not have any basic facilities. Our house got washed by the tsunami and we lost every thing. My three children and I climbed in a tree and escape. During the last on and half year we moved three times to a different tsunami transitional camp. We faced a lot of difficulties at these refugee camps. Now we have a new house close to the main road where we can live without any fear and with much better facilities. We never would have been able to build such a beautiful house on our own!”