Article published in The Island newspaper

The Island

Thursday 31st August, 2006

Jayawickreme Foundation constructs 19 houses
in rural Weligama

The Jayawickreme Foundation – a non profit making organization which focuses on poverty alleviation in rural Weligama, has built 19 houses out of the buffer zones with several more projects in the pipeline.

Vice Chairperson of the Jayawickreme Foundation, Susanne Loos-Jayawickreme said that they will shortly commence the construction of a village for at least 20 Tsunami families. “A multi religious care center for 40 old people will also be opened.”

She said that when the fatal Tsunami struck claiming many lives and properties, the Jayawickreme Foundation helped from the very first hour to ease the horrible fate of the survivors and continues to do so even today.

“A representative of the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order and the AGA office Weligama asked us to help in the crisis situation and we lived up to the task. Countless donations have been made to adults and children in camps, and in the coastal villages according to their requirements. High priority was given to reviving the scattered small industry which enabled people not only to get an income but also overcome their trauma.”

Susanne said that among the other projects undertaken was the provision of fishing boats, renovation and equipping of a lace industry workshop, hair dresses shop, electrical repair shop and clerk’s office etc. “Sports goods were also provided to 30 youth clubs so that the youth could spend their time fruitfully.”

A two storied Kindergarten – Sunday school for 550 children cum community center is presently being built in the premises of the Gangaramaya Temple in Pelena, and will be officially inaugurated in September.

“We inaugurated a 500 houses project in rural Weligama four years back, and also built 28 houses for families who were living in mud and wood huts. There is also a free of charge Centre for almost 300 children, which is regarded and acknowledged as exemplary by the authorities. In the morning, the building is used as a free of charge Kindergarten. Due to demand, the facilities will be extended and among others Tamil lessons, history and geography classes will be taught.”

The micro financing system, she said has more than 1000 members and more than 300 self employment projects have been set up. “More than 1000 second hand spectacles have been donated to needy old people while Temples and poor people receive ad hoc help on request.”

The Jayawickreme Foundation was founded in 2001 as a non profitable, non political and non religious charity to help the poorest of the poor in the Weligama area to come up in life. The foundation is a registered and approved charity.

The Chairperson of the Foundation Sujith C. Jayawickreme is a former tea planter. He is a great grandson of the well known philanthropist Mudaliyar David Martin Samaraweera of Weligama and eldest son of the late Errol Jayawickreme, proprietor planter and estate visiting agent.

German born, Susanne Loos-Jayawickreme is a journalist by profession and has lived in rural Weligama since 1994. She is also a member of the English Writer’s Cooperation of Sri Lanka.

Since 2001, Susanne has been working full time for the Jayawickreme Foundation. She was selected by “The United Organization of All Island Communities – Sri Lanka” to receive the award of “Desamanya” for her work in the field of Social Services recently and is the first foreigner to win any awar in the history of the organization. She also made a presentation at the UN Roundtable on Older Persons in the 2004 Tsunami in February 2006 in New York.

Source: The Island, Thursday 31st August, 2006. Home News Page Three. www.island.lk