Tsunami Emergency Motivation Board, need of the hour - Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera

Raja Waidyasekera
Tissamaharama special correspondent

Intervention of the State towards the tsunami stricken was not sufficient. It was the NGOs that provided relief measures, housing and livelihood development activities, as such a lot of problems have arisen, said Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, General Secretary Hela Urumaya, former Parliamentarian and the Chairman Sri Bodhi Raja Foundation.

The Ven. Thera said housing complexes were not set up to the required standards. The most deserving less fortunate families who were tsunami stricken and most affected did not get houses.

The distribution of various items including dry rations etc., was not properly decentralised. The most deserving did not get them.

The Ven. Thera said, “I am the Chairman of the Bodhi Raja Foundation. It was our foundation that started building houses for the tsunami stricken just after tsunami.

He said the first twelve houses were set up at Sagara Mawatha at Panadura. Later the number reached 6,000. The last 120 houses were vested with the recipients on December 21 at Koho Lanka, Hambantota.

These houses were built with the participation of recipients as such there is no question of inferior quality and standard. The Ven. Thera said there is an allegation that the funds of international community flowed to the LTTE.

Certain NGOs provided various requirements of the LTTE in the guise of developing the NE. He said there are still 1,000 empty houses that have not been occupied by any family.

Even today there are a host of tsunami stricken families who are without permanent houses. Most of these houses have been vacant because these have been given to people who have one or two houses.

The Ven. Thera said a solution to all these problems is setting up of a Tsunami Emergency Motivation Board and hold investigations into the illegal activities and corruption.

He said that the prelates should take the lead in this tsunami board.

This is the only solution for the discrimination, corruption and illegal activities as much as it was up to the State to consider this proposal of mine, the Thera said.