WANTED - Goodwill Ambassadors

Looking for Goodwill Ambassadors to join us in our efforts to 'HEAL THE WORLD'

Thursday's @ 12:45pm at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (Ridgeway) - Colombo, Sri Lanka

+ 94 77 736 8820 | rotarycolomboregency@gmail.com

Site-Visit by RCCR

Rotarians Sepalika and Asha of RCCR visited Kalmunai in the Ampara District to get a first hand look at the Well Cleaning Process and speak with the project implementors, recipients and relevant authorities.

They were able to visit both '500 Well Cleaning' Projects of Stretchline & CandleAid.

The RCCR Members were bombarded with words of praise and acknowledgement towards the donors and cordinators of the Well cleaning project, which resulted in many of these un-fortunate victims of the dreadful floods being able to continue with their daily livelihoods and chores without the fear of water borne illnesses affecting their loved ones.

Rtn. Asha with a Cleaned Well recipient family.

Rtn. Sepalika with another Cleaned Well recipient family.

1st 500 Wells Cleaned!

500 Wells of the 1st 500 Wells Cleaning Project sponsored by Stretchline (Private) Limited have been cleaned. out of this, over 250 wells have already been certified by the PHI (Public Health Inspector). Awaiting the balance to be certified.

Below are a few pictures of the inauguration day.

Quality of the well water is tested and report submits to the P.H.I’S for these areas.

Vellavely D.S and M.O.H Participated in the Inauguration Ceremony.

JAPAN - Tsunami Relief Effort

RCCR is Coordinating a Relief Effort in Japan via the Matsusaka Rotary Club in Japan - RI Dist 2630.

We are currently looking at providing monetary support towards the Rotary Club so that they may purchase the required relief items as needed.

If you CAN or would LIKE to help through our Rotary Club, please contact us ASAP.

Thank You

RCCR - JAPAN Tsunami Relief Effort Team

1st 100 Wells Completed!

The 1st 100 out of the 500 Wells Sponsored by Stretchline (Private) Limited, for De-Contamination due to the Floods have been successfully completed.

District - Batticaloa

DS Division - Vellavelli

GN Division - Porathivu

Tsunami in Japan

We would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to the people and victims of the Tsunami in Japan.

Acknowledgement - Stretchline!

We wish to Thank and Acknowledge the receipt of the following Cheques from Stretchline (Private) Limited towards the de-contaminating and cleaning of the 1st 500 wells in Kalmunai/ Batticaloa:

HSBC Cheque #'s - 048032 & 048033

Cleaning of 500 Wells!

RCCR together with Stretchline (Private) Limited will commence a Project to Clean & Purify 500 Wells in the Kalmunai/ Batticaloa areas that were contaminated due to the recent floods on Monday, 7th March 2011.

The 500 Wells will require an estimated 25 days to complete. We are grateful to Stretchline and its staff for the full sponsorship extended towards this Project.

Project estimate is LKR. 1.2 Million!

Update on Contributions Received

We have now reached LKR 3.35 Million in Donations and Pledges thanx to Rotarians and Friends of Rotary.

RCCR Releases More Funds to RCK

RCCR Flood Relief Effort Committee just authorized and released a further LKR 200,000/- to Rotary club of Kalmunai to purchase emergency relief items.

We felt the funds released to RCK would speed up relief efforts as sourcing and transporting from Colombo would delay our efforts by 2 days minimum, which we cannot afford to incur due to the urgency of the requirement!

Death toll rises!

The death toll due to the latest wave of floods has gone up to 16 while an estimated 1.2 million people had been affected and 172,535 people were displaced as of today.

- http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/9666-death-toll-goes-up.html

Update re. Floods from Rotary Club of Kalmunai

Pictures sent in by the Rotary Club of Kalmunai (RCK), who are actively coordinating on-site Relief Efforts in Kalmunai areas show the results of a sudden shower that resulted in the surrounding areas.

The submerged Jeep is the RCK vehicle used to distribute the Relief items, which according to RCK needed rescuing.

Current round of rains have resulted in many people being left homeless and in-need of urgent assistance. The rains have damaged and destroyed many retaining walls of lakes and damns releasing large volumes of water towards un-suspecting residents.

Sat Image Update

The above Sat image of Sri Lanka clearly shows the permanent cloud formation over the Island.

Temperatures range from a high of 31C to a low of 24C with specific areas in country dropping to much lower levels!

Storms and Thundershowers are forecasted for the next couple of days!

- www.weather.com

Relief Distribution at Valathapitty Refugee Camp

The Rotary Club of Kalmunai distributed Lunch Parcels, Mineral Water Bottles and Used Clothes for the Refugees accommodated in Valathapitty Vidyalayam. These peoples are displaced from Mallikaithivu, and Valathapitty low land areas.

Valthapitty is approximately 20Km from Kalmunai Town. RCK members generally pass through Sammanthurai, however, yesterday they we could not travel through Sammanthurai or through Malkampitty route due to floods. They reached this School through Akkaripathu, which is almost 60 Km from Kalmunai town.

More 350 Members from this Refugees Camp were benefitted by this relief distribution at Valathapitty Refugee Camp.

RCCR donated Mineral Water Bottles and Used Clothes towards the distribution at this Refugee Camp.

Floods reach dangerous level!

As of Friday, 04 February, 2011 "The flood situation in the country reached dangerous levels with the number of affected families increasing by over 100,000 within hours, bringing the total of affected families to 230,000, causing six deaths, official said.

The number affected stood at 100,000 late Thursday evening. Bad weather took its toll in 17 districts while it was reported that those affected were kept in 322 camps.

Spill gates were opened in all tanks in the Anurdhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara, Vavuniya and Trincomalee Districts as almost all the tanks reached spill levels.

Director General Department of Irrigation G. G. Godaliyadha said that the Anurahapura and Polonnaruwa Districts posed the most danger as gushing waters of Nachchiduwa, Padaviya and Rajangana and several other tanks inundated all low lands in Anuradhapura while many areas in Polonnaruwa was also submerged. Medirigriya area was also submerged as the gates of Kavudulla tanks were opened." (YP)

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/9551-floods-reach-dangerous-level.html

Thank you Stretchline!

Stretchline (Private) Limited - Sri Lanka, together with their Staff have come forward towards the complete sponsorship of cleaning 500 wells in Batticaloa/ Kalmunai.

RCCR would also like to acknowledge the receipt of Clothing and Mineral Water Bottles by their staff towards the flood affected in the East Coast of Sri Lanka.

Thank You!

Acknowledgement - SIRC

RCCR would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Stockholm International Rotary Club (SIRC) for their valued contribution of LKR. 33,380/- towards the flood relief efforts of our Club.

Donation of Rations at Pandirippu

The Rotary Club of Kalmunai distributed Dry rations and Bed Sheets for the Flood affected people from Pandiruppu Tsunami village around 2 Km from Kalmunai town.

This is also a small village Constructed for Tsunami affected people who lived 65m from the sea.

These houses were constructed in very low-land paddy fields after filling earth to a minimum required level. During the flood all the villages were displaced and had to be accommodated in a refugee camp at Pandiruppu.

Around 36 families benefitted by this relief distribution at Pandiruppu Tsunami Village. RCCR contributed Bed Sheets towards this effort.

Relief to Students in Aligambe

The Rotary Club of Kalmunai (RCK) distributed Exercise books and Biscuits (Contributed by RCCR) to the flood affected students from Aligambe village around 45Km from Kalmunai town.

according to RCK, prior

to 1948 this area was completely under forest cover, and these people lived without clothing/ dresses. Rev. Fr. Kook (an American) entered this area and helped improve this forest into a small village. The villages even to this date use a deferent language/ dialect apart from Tamil.

C

urrently, a small Church and a School up to grade Eight for around 300 students can be seen.

H

owever, there is still no electricity since not many people are aware of their plight or for that matter, their existence.

RCCR together with RCK would like to request a willing donor/s to assist us towards providing these villages the basic necessities to help to improve their living standards.

Cleaning of 500 Wells

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency is looking at cleaning 500 wells in the areas of Batticaloa. Once the cleaning is complete, residents will be able to use the well water for drinking purposes and other livelyhood

More Dry Rations being Donated

The Rotary Club of Kalmunai distributed Dry Rations provided by the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency to the flood affected Media persons from the areas of Thuraineelavanai and Kalmunai Kudi areas.

24 Flood affected Media staff received Relief packs worth of minimum LKR. 1000/-

Contamination of Wells

With the rains coming to an end and the flood water levels receding, a lot of mainstream attention has moved away from the people who were affected by the floods.

We have been received ground reports that out of a total of 64,000 wells in Batticaloa District alone, about 15,000 have been contaminated due to the severe floods.

Since, the contamination of these wells result in residents not being able to use the well water for drinking or any other purposes, it has drastically affected their livelihoods as well.

RCCR is looking at working with the Rotary Club of Kalmunai towards cleaning much of these wells, so that the water is fit for human consumption.

We will update details pertaining to the requirements and logistics pertaining to this project as soon as we get feedback from Site, with regards to Costs etc.

Rotary Medical Camp at Annamalai

Today the Rotary Club of Kalmunai (RCK) members arranged a Medical Camp at Annamalai where one death registered during the flood. It is a village far from Kalmunai town and no medical facilities available. This medical camp treated 358 patients from that area and villages around Annamalai.

Medicines valued at over LKR. 350,000/- was contributed by the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency and the Rotary Club of Colombo Fort.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Doctors who contributed their time and efforts on a voluntary basis, whist acknowledging the untiring efforts of the Members of RCK who coordinated this Medical Camp.

Distribution of Dry Rations & Bed Sheets

The Rotary Club of Kalmunai distributed Dry Rations and Bed Sheets donated by the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, to the Flood affected peoples from Thiravanthiyamedu, and Karithivu Tsunami Housing scheme.

Acknowledgement - NDB Investments

RCCR Would like to Acknowledge and Thank NDB Investments Ltd., for their cash donation by NDB Cheque# 071128 towards RCCR's Flood Relief Efforts in Batticaloa & Kalmunai.

Thank You

RCCR

Breakdown of Items - Batticaloa

Breakdown of items valued at LKR 200,000/- sent to Kattankudy in Batticaloa via our on-site coordinators on Wednesday, 19th January 2011.

1. 250kg Rice
2. 100kg Sugar
3. 100kg Dhal
4. 100kg Flour
5. 100kg Dry Fish
6. 100 Pkts Milk Powder
7. 115 Sleeping Mats
8. 500 Toothbrushes
9. 500 Canned Fish/ Sardines
10. 500 boxes of Mosquito Coils
11. 240 Kids Pampers
12. 30 Baby/ Kids Shorts
13. 225 Bed Sheets
14. 500 Lifebuoy Soap

Breakdown of Items - Kalmunai

Breakdown of items sent to Kalmunai via the Rotary Club of Kalmunai on Tuesday, 18th January 2011

1. 200Kg Sugar
2. 500Kg Rice
3. 200Kg Dhal
4. 500 Canned Fish/ Sardines
5. 100 Boxes Mosquito Coils
6. 250 Packs Milk Powder
7. 200 Bed sheets

8. 22 Packs of Mineral Water

More details to follow

Update

Dry rations including Medicines, Mosquito Coils and Bed Sheets worth approximately LKR 300,000/- have reached the Rotary Club of Kalmunai through our volunteers on the ground.

The total pledges Regency has received from friends of Rotary near and far up to now is LKR 854,000/- We are very grateful to them for their quick response.

The floods in some parts have started receding, and people are gradually moving back into their homes to rebuild their lives. It is reported that 19,368 houses are partially damaged and 3,859 are fully damaged by the floods. Some of the families now destitute were also affected by the 2004 tsunami.

The Disaster Management Centre in Colombo reported 38 people as confirmed dead and 12 as missing (OCHA, Jan 17, 2011). The UN in their situation report advised the local authorities and residents of the potential danger from explosive remnants from the war that ended last year which the flood waters may have unearthed and carried into the flooded areas.

The health ministry attempting to mitigate the threat of water-borne diseases have sent out medical teams into the areas. The damage to rice and vegetable cultivation is already felt in other parts of the country with their short supply and increased prices, and the cost of rebuilding of road network will high.

While some aid has already been provided by the US and Indian governments, and organizations such as UNICEF and smaller voluntary organizations, the UN appealed to donors for more funds and relief items for this emergency situation. The people affected are now in need of cooking utensils and clothes in addition to food and medicines as they begin to resume their lives.

We will keep you updated on our next steps.

Aid dispatch update

Sheets & Clothing, Medicines and Dry Rations have been organized to be delivered over the weekend as a immediate action by RCCR.

We are getting ground situation updates through the Rotary Clubs in Batticaloa and Kalmunai as well as our on-site coordinators.

More Deaths Reported

Thirty two deaths were reported, 49 persons were injured and 12 persons are reported missing due to the floods and rain affecting the country. More than 1,056,255 persons belonging to 282,953 families have been affected due to floods and heavy rain in Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee , Vavuniya and several other districts in the Central, North and East. More than 339,200 are currently housed in displaced camps, the Disaster Management Center said.

87,899 families have been sheltered in camps in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Kilinochchi and other Districts.

Unconfirmed reports say upto 9 people have died due to temperatures plummeting to 16C in Batticaloa and surrounding areas.

Status Update from DMC-SL

People in 14 district in the island are affected by the floods occurred due to heavy rainfall received during the past few days.

A large number of families are affected by severe floods especially in Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa Districts.

*As at 13th January 2011, 533,837 persons belonging to 143,352 families in Baticaloa District, 336,470 persons in 88,376 families in Ampara District and 29,632 persons belonging to 7,949 families in Trincomalee district are affected by floods. The total number of flood victims in the island is 967,115 persons belonging to 258,120 families.

So far and 1,727 houses are totally destroyed and 12,151 houses are partly destroyed.

- Dissaster Management Centre (DMC) , Sri Lanka

 

More Pictures

- Pictures Courtesy - AFP

Status Update!

With the generous contributions, we have collected over Rs. 500,000/- in less than 24 Hrs.

Current death toll reads at 27!

Thank You

RCCR

January 2011 - Sri Lanka’s Central, Eastern and Northern provinces under water!

- Pictures courtesy of Reuters

Rain and snow have unleashed havoc in many parts of the globe signalling that climate change is real and is already here. Our wish is that those affected will be able to rebuild their homes and restart their livelihoods soon.

Rain came down on sunny Sri Lanka from early December 2010, and now we have severe flooding in the Central, Eastern and Northern provinces.

The floods and mudslides have led to 24 reported deaths in these areas.

While Batticaloa and Ampare Districts are the most affected in the eastern province, it has been impossible to get an accurate estimate of the number of people affected as the road network had been submerged making many areas not even accessible.

However, it is estimated that well over a million people are affected by the floods. The Meteorological Department of SL forecasts more rain in the already affected areas, and so it is apparent that we need to act fast to provide relief to those already affected and to mitigate a further disaster that will arise from waterborne diseases.

Preliminary assessments by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which liaises with all UN agencies and the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Centre (DMC) indicate that Non-Food relief items, Dry Rations, and Drinking Water are on the top of the most needed list.

The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency (RCCR) will keep a close look at the situation and be tuned into the assessment of OCHA and DMC when purchasing and dispatching relief items to areas most in need.

RCCR are in the process of raising funds to purchase items in need, and would very much appreciate your contributions to fund immediate relief to those affected.

You may make a direct deposit into the following account dedicated for this relief effort:

ACCOUNT NAME : Rotary Club of Colombo Regency

ACCOUNT NUMBER : 001-003771-009

BANK NAME : HSBC

BANK ADDRESS : 24, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha, Colombo 1

SWIFT CODE : HSBC LKLX

CHEQUES : Drawn in favour of ‘Rotary Club of Colombo Regency’

Please email us at rotarycolomboregency@gmail.com so that we could reconcile and recognize your contribution. Do let us know if you need a receipt for your contribution, and the mailing address to do so.

We will acknowledge all funds received and report on how funds received are utilised through this blog - so please refer to it from time to time.

If you need further information, please contact:

President

Rtn. Bilal Mohamed

+94 77 735 2915

bilal@asianadventures.lk

Correspondence Address: 74A, Park Street, Colombo 2, Sri Lanka

President Elect

Rtn. Gehan de Alwis

+94 77 736 8820

Treasurer/ Past President

Rtn. Bary Jaleel

+94 77 730 0239

Past President

Rtn. Mario Perumal

+94 77 737 1204

Past President

Rtn. Tharanga Gunaratna

+94 77 738 9075

Thank You,

Rotary Club of Colombo Regency

RI District 3220, Sri Lanka