Meth Sevana tsunami housing scheme vested in people

Raja Waidyasekera, Tissamaharama special corre.

We commenced housing schemes for Tsunami stricken people in February 2005 at Saagara Mawatha Panadura, said Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera Chairman Sri Bodhi Raja Foundation at Embilipitiya former Parliamentarian and Secretary General Hela Urumaya.

The Ven. Thera was addressing a meeting that followed the vesting with tsunami stricken people the Meth Sevana housing scene at Koholankala Hambantota on December 21.

The housing scheme consists of 120 houses. It was built by the Embilipitiya Sri Bodhi Raja Foundation with funds from people of Singapore, the Singapore Red Cross Society and Taiwan donor institutions.

Ven Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said that the Tsunami was a blessing in the guise of a disaster.

He said there is an old Chinese saying 'never give a fish to a hungry man instead give him a fishing rod to catch fish cook and consume.'

The Ven. Thera said the genuine people who deserved these houses were selected by the District Secretary Hambantota.

He said that he was happy today for two reasons that there is a gathering of religious dignitaries in Taipei and that there is an inter-religious and international atmosphere here.

The Ven Thera said the Red Cross members in Singapore helped us to complete this housing scheme up to our expectations. He was thankful to all who contributed towards this meritorious task.

He said that they were providing houses and that it was the recipients who had to convert these houses to homes. We expect one thing from the beneficiaries that is humanity.

The High Commissioner of Singapore in Sri Lanka Tan Ka Hoe said that when a team of delegates visited Sri Lanka to see the affects of the tsunami disaster, the President gave the team a helicopter to visit Trincomalee, Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts.

He said we saw the destruction was immense. The coastal belt of the Southern region was similar to an abandoned battle field. The HC said Singapore Red Cross Society launched 18 projects to provide relief and various other benefits to the tsunami stricken. Rs. 1.75 million was spent on it. The Singaporeans helped the tsunami stricken with dedication and enthusiasm.

The Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa said that 41 GN divisions in Hambantota district were affected as a result of the tsunami. It was the Buddhist clergy who intervened first to help the disaster stricken.

He said Ven. Omalpe Thera was with us in Parliament. He must have resigned and offered the parliamentary seat to another.

Ven. Aluthwewa Soratha Thera Viharadipathi Kataragama Kiriwehera and Chancellor Uva University Ven. Devalegama, Dhammasena Thera participated.