E-Mail: crrrs@admin.ruh.ac.lk

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Devastation caused to Sri Lanka by  Tsunami  Terror Tidal Wave

Sri Lanka was very badly hit by a terror Tsunami tidal wave on 26.12.2004, causing inconceivable damage to life and property of people and infrastructure facilities, buildings, vehicles, machinery and such like. The death toll is still soaring, which presently stands at around 30,000 and the number missing is estimated over 4000. Nearly one million people are still in refuge camps and with their friends and relatives and it is impossible to find a person who has not lost a friend or a relative.

At our university, nearly a dozen of students have died and many have lost their family members and houses and property, and some university buildings located close to the sea have also been badly damaged.

People are suffering from profound psychological shock and trauma due to the loss of those who are near and dear to them and destruction of their hard earned property and houses due to the terror wave. Many have lost their means of living, especially those in the fisheries sector and hotel industry and are on the horns of a dilemma as to how to rise from the “ashes” and restart a living.

The task and the challenges before us are to rebuild the nation and the country in the shortest possible time while assuaging the grief and shock of the affected. We as a university have taken the initiative and have provided leadership to conduct a survey to ascertain the number dead, injured and displaced, damage to houses, property and livelihood and other connected information in the Matara district enabling the State to provide immediate relief and to design and implement a rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in an effective and efficient manner. We are also engaged in a detailed study to assess the nature and extent of damage to fisheries, agriculture and SME (small and medium enterprises) sectors in the region, thereby providing necessary information to rebuild those devastated sectors.

The University of Ruhuna being the intellectual pulse and brain trust of the South of the country with a strong infrastructure resource base including ICT, we have established a Centre for Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Studies at the University of Ruhuna on the 10th January, 2005 with a view to maintaining relevant data bases, conducting appropriate studies and censuses and providing necessary information, expertise, advice and guidance for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes in the region.

In order to provide relief and assistance to the affected in the university community, which has a total strength of about 6,000, and to repair and rehabilitate the university buildings damaged and to establish and maintain the Centre for Relief, Rehabilitation and Studies, we have established a University Relief and Rehabilitation Fund. Given the enormity of the damage to life and property, we solicit contributions form the relevant stakeholders, well-wishers, social Samaritans from home and abroad to grant redress to the afflicted.

The fund will be managed by a committee appointed by the university council under the supervision of the Vice Chancellor. Any donation or in-kind contribution by you will contribute in no small measure in alleviating the untold suffering of the affected and will give them a sense of security, hope and strength to restart their life.

In the circumstances, we would appreciate very much if you could kindly contribute to the above cause at this hour of grief, shock and distress. Your donations may be sent in favour of “University Relief and Rehabilitation Fund” to be credited to the account of 032- RFC 18 of the University of Ruhuna of the People’s Bank branch at Matara with SWIFT Code PSBKLKLXA023.

Thanking you.

Yours truly,

Professor Ranjith Senaratne
Vice Chancellor

Email: vcrs@admin.ruh.ac.lk