A Project of
Hope... Compassion...
Progress Update (July 25, 2005)
The House Reconstruction Project to provide houses for those who lost theirs during the Tsunami has reached a milestone. The house that was under construction at Athagama has been completed and is now occupied. The house has a floor area of 600 sq. ft. and is solidly constructed The financial contribution by the Foundation is Rs. 325,000. The speedy construction was due to the efforts of Ven. Athagama Gunaratna, the chief incumbent of the Sumanaramaya Temple Athakada.
Another house has been completed at Kamburugamuwa. It is a two-roomed cottage and is provided with electricity also. The construction of this house was completed in less than three months. Physical construction was over last week, but the beneficiaries are waiting for an auspicious time to occupy the house. The house-warming ceremony is planned for Friday the 29th July. The Foundation provided Rs. 300,000/= for this job, which was used mainly for materials. The labour for construction and the land was provided by the beneficiary which helped to reduce the costs. It is Ven. Pannajeeva’s industry, energy and enthusiasm that helped to get this job done in such a short time.
The brickwork and the roof construction of the eight houses at Talpe, Habaraduwa, have been completed. What remains now is the completion of plastering and fixing of door and windows; about half of the woodwork has been carried out and it is likely that the work will be completed mid-August. The houses are scheduled to be occupied before the end of the month.
The gifts that came in the container, cleared some time ago, are being distributed to the needy. However, with regard tot the medicines, by the time the container was cleared, there was no need for medicines in the Tsunami affected areas nor there was a mechanism for their distribution. The medicines were therefore handed over to a hospital. Though they will not benefit the Tsunami victims, they will be used to heal the sick; a great act of merit.
Berkeley Buddhist Vihara donates money to Sarana (July 15, 2005)
Berkley Buddhist Vihara of California, US donated another $9500 for the Tsunami Reconstruction project in Habaraduwa and Kaburugamuwa. The foundation is very grateful for all the compassionate people who has donated this money toward this great cause. We would like to also thank Ven. Wimalaratana, cheif Incumbent of the Vihara, and the committee to coordinating this effort.
California School Donates Six Thousand Dollars (June 21, 2005)
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A sum of $ 6028.00 donated by the grade 8 students of TeWinkle Middle School in Costa Mesa, California has been received by the Sarana Foundation. The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the gift and thank the Dharmapala Institute for arranging the money to be sent to the Foundation for Tsunami relief work in Sri Lanka. The Foundation wishes that its appreciation be conveyed to the School and the 8th grade children. The Foundation values this gift very much, and considers it a great act of compassion on the part of the children of the school. The Foundation will reciprocate by ensuring that the beneficiaries of their donation will include school children.
Ven. Ranasgalle Gnanaweera
Patron, Sarana Foundation
Sent by D. C. Wijeratna on behalf of Ven. Gnanaweera
17th June 2005