Letter from Sewalanka Foundation Chairman

Within minutes of the Tsunami striking the coastline of Sri Lanka, Sewalanka Foundation staff, in eleven coastal districts, began responding to the immediate emergency needs of the people worst affected. During the first week (26 th December to 1 st January 2005 ), our field staff utilised every capacity and asset at their immediate disposal to assist bereaved and displaced families. Our staff worked around the clock, some not sleeping for several days, in close collaboration with all local government agencies and the respective Government Agents in each district and the LTTE in the north.

Simultaneously in our Head Office, senior staff began re-structuring the management of the organisation so as to speed up our internal decision making process. It will also enhance our ability to communicate and liaise with the bilateral agencies, international and local NGOs and private (local and international) individuals and businesses, who contacted Sewalanka Foundation offering to assist the affected communities. The importance of coordination and communication with the government and the LTTE, UN agencies, bilateral agencies, INGOs, NGOs and private organisations and individuals was grasped early by Sewalanka Foundation and we are committed to continuing to promote coordination and communication at the district level, as well as nationally and internationally.

Sewalanka Foundation has made rapid and effective progress with respect to institutional re-structuring in response to this disaster. We now have an even greater capacity to deliver both emergency and long term support to tsunami affected communities throughout the country.

Sewalanka Foundation Senior Staff met on Saturday 15 January to review and update our initial strategic response to the Tsunami disaster and incorporate the changing situation on the ground . The revisited strategic response is still a working document and will be reviewed again in two weeks time

I would like to thank all of you deeply and sincerely for your individual acts of kindness and the overwhelming generosity of individuals, businesses, organisations and entire countries towards the people of Sri Lanka , who have been affected by this inconceivable tragedy.

Harsha Kumara Naveratne
Chairman
Sewalanka Foundation

Please download here the latest PDF copy of the Tsunami Disaster Strategic Response Paper (dated 19 January 2005)

Tsunami related newsletter articles

> April 2006, Information technology: Access for all
> April 2006, In the field with a Sewalanka officer
> April 2006, Handlooms delivered in the east
> April 2006, Permanent housing in the North

> January 2006, SLF wins presidential award
> January 2006, Recognition for Tsunami effort
> January 2006, DEC assesses recovery in south

> June 2005, Sewalanka building 23% of transitional shelter island-wide, National.
> June 2005, South & West: An holistic approach to recovery.
> June 2005, Rebuilding Lives in Ampara District.
> June 2005, Batticaloa responding to changing needs.
> June 2005, Optimistic outlook for the North.
> June 2005, IFSP respond quickly to meet needs in Mullaitivu.
> June 2005, Jaffna rebuilding fishermen infrastructure.
> June 2005, Tsunami: Addressing psychosocial needs.
> June 2005, Focusing on Gender in tsunami recovery.
> June 2005, Appeals Fund: Friends joining forces with Sewalanka.