Thousands of Victims still stranded 3 years after catastrophe
By Madhushala Senaratne
As Sri Lanka marks the third anniversary of the catastrophic 2004 tsunami, it has come to light that only US$ 1.7 billion of the US$ 3.1 billion pledged by foreign donors has been received. As a result of the shortage of funds and other reasons, thousands are still living in makeshift camps while rehabilitation work has been delayed.
According to Nation Building Ministry figures, there was a shortfall of US dollars 1.4 billion as against the money pledged for tsunami rehabilitation and related projects. Some of the agencies and governments had disbursed almost all the funds they pledged or were on the verge of keeping to their commitments, but others were lagging far behind. The money was pledged from more than 480 organisations.
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| An abandoned house at a tsunami housing scheme in the south. |
Of its total commitment of US$ 150 million, the World Bank had disbursed US$ 142 million while the UNICEF had dispersed its full commitment of US$ 42. 3 million. The USAID which had committed $ 115 million had disbursed $ 68 million. NORAD which pledged $ 1.2 million had disbursed $ 607,992.
At least 19,791 housing units still remain to be completed for those hit by the tsunami while in some cases there were people who received more than two houses due to uncoordinated distribution. A?a??A?Of the estimated 117,483 houses required, 85% of the work has been completed while the remaining would be completed by end of June next year,A?a??A? the ministryA?a??a??s tsunami housing projects director, Ramesh Selliah said.
Although 100% of the work has been completed in the Southern province, about 88% has been completed in the East, Mr. Selliah said. He said thousands were still living in temporary camps and were reluctant to move. He said the construction of houses in the northern and eastern areas was slower mainly due to the fighting in the areas.
BatticaloaA?a??a??s Additional District Secretary K. Mahesan, said reconstruction work in areas such as Vakarai was put on hold due to heavy fighting in the region and the subsequent displacement of thousands of civilians worsened the situation. A?a??A?However, over 90% of the required houses in the Batticaloa district have been completedA?a??A?, he said. In addition, much of the work in Ampara has also been completed.
However, maintaining an estimate cost for a house is becoming increasingly difficult with the rise in prices of materials such as cement, according to Sritharan Sylvester, Director of Caritas which handles human and economic development issues in the East. Limited funds, donors moving out of the East and the rainy season were adding to their woes, he said. In President Mahinda RajapaksaA?a??a??s homebase of Hambantota a total of 6,391 houses have been rebuilt and families resettled. This is in excess of the 3193 houses that were directly affected or damaged. A?a??A?The houses built in excess are now occupied by the indirectly affected people such as renters, sub families and extended families,A?a??A? Hambantota District Secretariat tsunami work chief Mahinda Manawadu, said.
But, some of the housing projects have been completed halfway and abandoned. The construction of 200 houses in Ichallampattu in Trincomalee undertaken by World Vision Lanka was stopped due to the conflict in the area. However, its National Director Yu Hwa Li said that they would resume work once stability is restored in the area.Meanwhile, a senior official of the Tsunami Education Rehabilitation Monitor (TERM) said that of the 183 schools identified as directly damaged, 100 have been rebuild so far. Work on the rebuilding of some 40 schools in the Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee and Batticaloa has been put on hold due to security reasons while the work on the remaining 40 schools is to be finished next year, he said.
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Certain projects implemented by the Japanese government in the East had also been delayed due to the prevailing security conditions. A?a??A?Although much of the work has been completed, including the reconstruction of Japan-Sri Lanka friendship villages in Trincomalee and Ampara, we faced many difficulties especially with regard to transportation of goods and equipment,A?a??A?, the Japanese embassyA?a??a??s second secretary Yasuhiro Watanabe said.
source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071223/News/news0001.html
They say Sri Lanka is a jewel of an island, filled with smiling people and breath taking nature. From our experiences of the past few days, we are pleased to report that they are not wrong.After arriving at the ungodly hour of 5am, and, eventually, amongst a mountain of luggage, seeing our backpacks sheepishly appear on the luggage belt, we made the hour long journey into Colombo. Once there, we went to our friend Dixie’s house, one highly neat dood. Brilliant photographer. UN worker. Inspiring conversationalist. At Casa de Dixie we caught up on old times as well as much needed sleep. We also met some other super nice UN and NGO people, whom we played water polo with at one of the snazziest hotels in the country, The Blue Water.
Then, in the bumpy backseat of a genuine white UN 4×4, we had a thrilling ride across the entire breadth of the country, along some tear jerking vistas and sheer drops on the winding highland roads. After some 10 hours we ended up at the secluded Surf gem of Arugam Bay. There, in our hammocks, we chilled for a few days at a fantastic beach front surf place, the Galaxy Lounge, complete with delicious food and plentiful beers.
As a whole, Sri Lanka is full of vibrant, happy, polite people, who are keen to introduce themselves and to learn more about other cultures. Without fail, this has been the case for everyone – whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or other.
Despite a sad collapse of the cease fire and a tragic return to what can only be described as full out civil war, the country feels strangely safe for foreign travellers. In fact, from what we’ve been told so far, the biggest threat are the many super duper poisonous snakes. Eeek. They are presumably waiting for Sami to wander into the tall grass for a drunken late night piss. So far we’ve only seen one King Cobra, but it was far scarier that any high security zone, military checkpoint or Kalashnikov wielding camouflage soldier.
Tomorrow we’re accompanying our buddies on a second UN mission, this time a trip to document a much needed road project that connects remote villages in the dense East Sri Lankan jungle.
In the next few days we’ll probably be back on the South Western Coast, the epicentre of unashamed decadence and worryfree holiday drinking. No doubt, having had this unusual priviledge of seeing the hidden eastern areas of Sri Lanka will certainly make our relaxing even nicer. We can only hope that one day this country will see peace again and that this gem of an island will get what it deserves.
Posted by S&M
source:
http://samiandmere.blogspot.com/2007/12/landing-in-lanka.html Cheap prinivil lisinopril Price of levitra at costco
Arugam als Erlebnis
Here is an article received from our good friends and strong AbaY supporters in Germany.
www.sri-lanka-board.de
Ich mA?A?chte hier die MA?A?glichkeit nutzen, Euch die wunderschA?A?ne OstkA?A?ste ein wenig nA?A?her zu bringen.
Der vom Tourismus weitgehend erschlossene Westen des Landes ist sicher vielen Lesern bekannt, jedoch landschaftlich ebenso anders , wie auch in der Tierwelt.
Man findet endlose , saubere StrA?A?nde, die zum Baden und Surfen einladen.
Begegnungen ? NatA?A?rlich, wenn man denn mag. 😉
Oft sieht man Fischer, die ihre Netze einholen oder diese reparieren.
Kinder von Fischern, die es den Alten nach machen und selbst schon handeln wollen, sind ebenfalls A?A?ber Kontakte erfreut.
Niemand stA?A?rt sich an einem netten Plausch und man ist herzlich willkommen. Nach erledigter Arbeit wird dann gemeinsam der Fang bewundert und eine Zigarette rundet den Tag ab.
Am Strand entlang findet man ungeahnte SehenswA?A?rdigkeiten, Purchase generic valtrex online die oftmals nur den Locals bekannt sind, wie z.B. der Elefantenfelsen oder der Crocodilsrock….
In der HA?A?hle des Crocodilrocks (unteres Bild) lebte z.B. monatelang ein tamilischer FlA?A?chtling auf der Flucht. A?A?ber diese Geschichte schrieb die Autorin Claudia Ackermann das Buch “Der Krokodilfelsen”.
Aber, es gibt nicht nur Strand und Meer………
Eine wundervolle Flora und Fauna begrA?A?sst GA?A?ste mit offnenen Armen und wer sich ein wenig Zeit nimmt, diese Ruhe und den Augenblick zu geniessen, wird es nicht bereuen.
Man kann sich A?A?ber wilde Elefanten, die in Ruhe auf einer Lichtung grasen,
…wilde Pfauen, die teilweise den Wegesrand sA?A?umen und die Ruhe selbst sind……..
…und Begegnungen zu Menschen aller Art freuen.
Mag jemand die Kultur des Landes abseits des Tourismus erleben ? Auch Dieses ist natA?A?rlich machbar und wir selbst waren erstaunt, wie wunderschA?A?n verborgen einige Dinge im Dschungel sind.
Ein Beispiel dafA?A?r ist eine der A?A?ltesten Tempelruinen Asiens in Lahugalla selbst.
Weiter Abseits der StrA?A?nde und der normalen Strassen kann man bei Interesse eine wunderschA?A?ne Felsenformation besuchen, auf dem vor vielen Jahrhunderten eine Tempelanlage geschaffen Amantadine price us wurde. Dort leben heute noch MA?A?nche, die in Meditation und Gebete versunken den Tag in aller Abgeschiedenheit verbringen. Eine EindrA?A?cke sollen Euch untere Bilder davon geben.
Auf folgendem Bild sieht man, wie A?A?ber das Dach oben aus der normalen Felsenformation entstanden ist. Die Unterkunft des MA?A?nches ist somit auch von der Natur vorgegeben.
In diese Gegend verlaufen sich sehr selten Toristen und so war der MA?A?nch doch ein dankbar fA?A?r ein wenig Abwechslung im Alltag und gerne zu einem GesprA?A?ch bereit.
Die eigentliche Tempelanlage jedoch ist so gross, dass man dort Stunden verbringen kA?A?nnte. Wir zogen es vor, den MA?A?nchen ihre Ruhe zu lassen und verabschiedeten uns dankbar.
An dieser Stelle mA?A?chte ich fA?A?r Interessenten auf folgendes Buch hinweisen:
” Wie ein Fremder im Paradies” von Florian Palzinsky. Florian lebte in diesem Tempel lange Zeit als buddhistischer MA?A?nch und seine ErzA?A?hlungen in diesem Buch, seine Erfahrungen mit dem Land Sri Lanka sind wirklich eindrucksvoll.
Aber, man findet entlang der OstkA?A?ste an vielen Stellen diverse Felsformationen, auf denen kleinere Tempel errichtet wurden………
Ich denke, Ihr habt nun zumindest einen kleinen Eindruck von dieser wundervollen Gegend bekommen und mein Beitrag langweilte Euch nicht zu sehr. Es wA?A?rde mich freuen, ein wenig Begeisterung und Neugier in Euch geweckt zu haben und verbleibe mit lieben GrA?A?ssen,
HA?A?nschen.
P.S.: Wer Interesse an mehr Infos dazu haben mA?A?chte, kann gerne folgenden Link dazu nutzen.
www.sri-lanka-board.de
https://www.arugam.info/
Ask me what was the most awesome thing about my trip to Arugambay this time;
- the bus ride – which was truly an experiance!!!
- The company
excelent!!
- MambosA?a??a?? rastha hut!!
As weA?A?trudged all across the bay with all our bagage heavy from the 12 hour ride across the country ..looking for the perfect place to stay was tiring the price needed to be right as there was no way we could go back for cash as the closest ATM was 3 hours away!!
so we walked & walked until right at the end a familiar voice holloredA?a??A? Mambo!! & the gang such a supprise to see them so far away but hell guess he was as shocked to & happy to see us that he gave us the most awesome room in the house the Rastha hut complete with a well & your own peice of the beach (Where we did most of the skinny dipping by moonlight he he)A?a??A?
Anyways I have much more to write on Arugambay but I have no clue where to start the place is simply a trip & as I always say A?a??A? One day .. One day I will come back to Arugambay & never leave
~ by beachbumm on November 30, 2007.
| Hidden Treasure |
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| 25 November:34:06 |
| By Gayan Ratnayake |
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Sri Lanka a treasure trove of unexplored maritime history: archaeologists
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Nov 25, 2007 (LBO) A?a??a?? Archaeologists working on a Dutch colonial era shipwreck in Sri Lanka’s southern Galle port say 12 more wrecks lie submerged, awaiting excavation and cataloging as historical treasure.
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“There are 27 sites which contain 12 shipwrecks in the Galle port,” Rasika Muthucumarana, archeologist from the maritime archeology unit in Galle, told LBO.
The maritime archeological team who worked on the Dutch wreck, the Avondster, has already started work on excavating a wooden ship and a steel steam ship in the bay.
Muthucumarana says the archaeology unit excavates and conserves the artifacts but the wreck will be left underwater as breeding grounds for fish and corrals.
It is also expensive and time consuming to collect pieces of wrecks and assemble them on dry land, Muthucumarana said.
The ships lying underwater were used by merchants to transport goods and some of the wrecks date back to the 13th century.
The recently excavated Avondster, which belonged to the Dutch East India Trading company, was wrecked in 1659 when her anchor slipped and the ship ran aground.
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The Avondster was excavated for four years from 2001 where the team recovered 2,000 artefacts. But the 2004 tsunami swept away around 70 percent of the collection, Muthucumarana says.
The excavation was financed by the government of Netherlands which gave 700 million rupees to Sri Lanka to initiate development and conservation projects on heritage sites in the southern region from 2006 to 2009.
One of the main goals of the excavation was to build capacity of Sri Lankan archaeologists and conservators to continue a permanent archaeology program in the island, says Senerath Dissanayake, director general of the department of archaeology.
Furthermore, the projects focus on developing cultural tourism activities that would help the local economy of the region through more employment opportunities.
At present, the Dutch funded development projects are focused on restoring the colonial-era forts in Galle, Matara and Katuwana, and the Kataragama temple.
An ancient Dutch warehouse within the Galle fort is being restored to be used as a maritime museum and a visitor centre.
Unconfirmed reports say that over 1,600 shipwrecks lie along the coastline of Sri Lanka from Colombo to Pottuvil in the eastern coast, that have not been excavated due to financial and other difficulties.
In Galle, of the dozen sunken ships in the harbour, six ships belonged to the East India Trading company.
The Galle Port
The Galle bay was used from the pre Christian times as a natural harbor in the southern region but gained importance after the 12th century.
Several stone anchors of Indo-Arabian origin have also been discovered, one weighing almost a ton made of stone probably from Oman, and with a wooden anchor stock around five hundred years old.
Excavated stone anchor
Another anchor has been found of Mediterranean origin, similar to those used in Roman times.
A celadon bowl which was named after its tint of green (celadon) is one of the few relics found, relating to the early trade with China’s Southern Song dynasty (13th century). But the famous blue-and-white Chinese ware is found in abundance. |
| http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=717462877&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=12 |
The responsible world begins to take global warming serious.
And Sri Lanka is planning to point out its unique ecological position.
The island Nation, it is said, has NO Co2 emission at all.
Indeed, our green Island produces more Oxygen than its own emission of harmful gasses.
Arugam.info is informed that if this claim is proven to be correct, it will form the back bone of the entire future strategy of the Tourist Board.
In Arugam Bay we are blessed with no sea pollution at all.
That’s obvious, as we clearly have no industry or sewage which could ever spoil the quality of our blue waters.
Due to foreseeable energy shortages a few fossil fuel power stations are under construction in places like Trincomalee. The government might be forgiven to seek quick fix solutions; Ministers are busy with more pressing tasks.
Arugam.info however feels that wise and western NGO’s should have played a better role in using their huge financial muscle to influence policy and educate our small developing Nation.
Starting by giving a good example, for example?
In the case of Arugam Bay the exact opposite has happened!
Still, there is not a single solar panel around, there still are no windmills on any of our windswept beaches or hills, no renewable energy sources qualified for funding, there hasn’t even been a single low energy bulb donated (or used in NGO’s offices!!).
Instead, guys like Mercy Corps donated:
1.) Two stroke Mopeds (instead of electric ones, available for the same price)
2.) Compressor fridges and freezers (instead of LPG or inverter or heat pump systems)
3.) Two stoke 3-wheelers (outlawed in most Nations, the 4 Stroke BajajA?A? was available)
4.) Electric water heaters are said to be donated and installed in small restaurants
5.) Noise & beach polluting boats and Suzuki Kerosine engines
6.) Obscure Las Vegas Style light chains for visiting TV stunts like O.W. “Lights of Hope”
…….and many more energy consuming gimmicks were dished out in true US style, just to obtain a good photo for the distant donors and for the flash M/C newsletter.
Buy tadacip from india Arugam.info at the time tried to help organizations such as Mercy Corps and The Angel Network to see the light of the future and use chances a remote enclave like the Bay offered to them and their long-term plans.
Our help was refused – and our own bed sheet poster, at the time: “No light – No hope” was of course totally ignored. Although much more appropriate, as NONE of the great Mercy Corpse funded ‘projects’ survived the first year of ‘operation.
Indeed, some dismissed and jobless staff had to be drafted in for the follow-on Oprah show to state “how much the US guys have changed our lives” and so on.
Five minutes after the TV guys left – the local girls of the tailor shopA?A? were without any job again, until this very day…A great deception some would call it.
It is with regret and great sadness that with all the huge sums collected, and the wisdom the rest of the world possesses regarding the future of our GREEN planet that we seem unable to begin to make realistic changes in a greenfield micro location such as Arugam Bay.
We (the NGO’s) had the cash, we had the knowledge and wisdom – and still the end effect has been totally negative.
We even damaged our own environment more than before 2004.
We had a great chance to build a better place, but it was totally missed.
At least ever since the arrival of ‘expert’ men and women from overseas.
Online prescription for cymbalta And thanks to Mercy Corps to change lives in Arugam Bay!
(Closing words of Ms. Whinfrey in her show on Arugam Bay)
At a packed hall of enthusiastic tourism crowds, the World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards Ceremony took place at Excel in Docklands London on the 14th November 2007 and Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka was awarded the A?a??E?Highly Commended Best DestinationA?a??a?? award. This recognition no doubt is a tremendous boost and an instrument for the revival and development of tourism in Arugam Bay and also adds a high profile for Sri LankaA?a??a??s tourism. There will no doubt be immeasurable publicity generated reaching the tourism industry and consumer media worldwide and this will certainly contribute towards image building of Sri Lanka as a responsible and sustainable tourism destination.
The World Travel Market (WTM) is the premier trade fair in the travel and tourism industry and draws a huge number of top executives, service providers, buyers and government tourism officials every year in November to London. Approximately 5,500 buyers and suppliers representing 202 countries and territories attend the WTM. The World Travel MarketA?a??a??s World Responsible Tourism Day was sponsored by the Virgin Holidays and held in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Fiona Jeffrey, Chairperson of the World Travel Market at the opening ceremony said A?a??A?WTM World Responsible Tourism Day on 14th November is the day that the aimless talking had to stop and the action began. For the first time ever we will bring the entire planet and the travel and tourism industry together in a way that has never been previously done.A?a??A?
Responsible Tourism Partnership, also a WTM World Responsible Tourism Day accredited logo user for the work its doing in the Responsible Tourism sector, says that it is delighted to have been able to assist Arugam Bay to receive this very important international tourism accolade and also recognize the work of several NGOs and organizations such as Sewalanka Foundation , Arugam Bay Tourism Association and ICEI in Arugam Bay who have been actively working rebuilding livelihoods promoting community tourism efforts. There is tremendous international interest currently in green and responsible tourism, this is strongly seen not only from the consumer side but also from the travel and tourism industry side and this international award for Arugam Bay will open the eyes of the tourism policy makers and the tourism industry to advance in sustainable tourism development.
Arugam Bay is classed among the top ten surf destinations in the world and there is so much more. The village itself is a delightful experience, there are no big hotel chains there and the community has developed tourism with their own hard work and imagination. Three star establishments rub shoulders with low-key stilt cabins and coconut palm leaf cabanas, and tourists share the beach with local fishermen. The wild and rugged scenery, elephants browsing at the edge of the village, abundant birdlife, and mysterious archaeological sites have made this a long time favourite destination for travellers.
The three ethnic groups ( Buy tadacip from india Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims) work and live in harmony. The population is 3,000 families and tourism establishments consist mostly of small family managed hotels/guesthouses and restaurants.
The community wants community-based tourism and feel that what makes Arugam Bay attractive is the community involvement and it should not be made a mass tourism destination. In Arugam Bay, tourism not only brings money, but it also creates a vehicle for peace for three ethnic groups to work and live in harmony. Community wants to link with government and protect the lifeline to the community and create a different model for Sri Lanka Tourism. The community is not against development but demands that it should benefit the community and not keep them away and only involve outsiders. The success will be when the experiences achieved by the community are used for future development.
http://lankapage.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-arugam-bay-hits-the
-top-as-a-%E2%80%98best-destination%E2%80%99/
How much differin
By Feizal Sameth
Colombo, Nov 20 (Bernama) — A top Malaysian conglomerate involved in construction and infrastructure development which has taken a majority stake in a Sri Lankan company is stepping up work on road development and housing projects here.
MTD Capital Bhd recently bought out Kapila Heavy Equipment Plc and last week renamed the Colombo firm as MTD Walkers Plc.
It is the company’s third subsidiary in Sri Lanka, after MTD CML Construction Ltd and MTD Construction Ceylon Pvt Ltd which handle housing and road development. MTD Walkers will tackle engineering tasks.
MTD group managing director Datuk Azmil Khalid told shareholders of MTD Walkers at an extraordinary general meeting here last week that it has submitted bids under the guidance of the Malaysian government to undertake construction of the Colombo-Kandy Alternate Highway and the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway.
Both are proposed major arteries running out of Colombo to key cities as well as the international airport complex.
He said construction of 25,000 housing units is being carried out by MTD CML at an investment cost of over 2.7 billion rupees (RM81.6 million).
In addition, MTD Walkers is marketing automated tea rollers locally and abroad in India, Africa and elsewhere. These are technically advanced machines optimising efficiency and enhancing greater profitability with minimum labour costs, he said.
MTD Capital acquired 90 percent of Kapila Heavy and also took over its management in June this year and is restructuring it.
Plans are underway to rebuild the group’s new head office in Colombo while improving the working environment of its workshops and branches at Ratnapura, Bandarawela and Galle, all outside Colombo, Azmil said.
The former Kapila Heavy has prime property in Colombo worth millions of rupees, the biggest asset of the company.
H. Channa Caldera, director of the renamed company, said it is actively pursuing infrastructure projects such as the petroleum oil storage tank for the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as well as projects for the Sri Jayawardanepura-Kotte Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Telecom and the Dialog Telekom head office expansion.
He added that the group is also involved in local infrastructure and other development work for the Ministry of Irrigation and the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka as well as the construction of a steel bridge at Arugam Bay in the Eastern Province Femcare shipping .
Walkers was one of the well-known British companies in Sri Lanka. It was sold to an Indian company, Bolts, and Hapila Heavy bought it 15 years ago.
Azmil told the meeting that the company had incurred heavy losses and the new management is in the process of cleaning the balance sheet and generating business.
— BERNAMA
source:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=297317
On the northern edge of the Lahugala National Park are the ruins of a substantial ancient temple now called Magul Mahavihara. This temple is worth a visit not only because of its particularly attractive forest setting but also because the image shrine, the Bodhi Tree and the stupa are all in a good state of preservation. Magul Mahavihara is approached by a causeway across a beautiful lotus filled reservoir which surrounds the whole complex. As you enter the main gate through the solidly built wall that surrounds all the buildings you will see on the left the remains of a small shrine with an unusual moonstone at its entrance. The elephants on this moonstone all have riders on their backs, something unseen in all other Sri Lankan moonstones. The stupa is built on a high terrace with three staircases leading up to it. There are impressive lion guardians at the top of the stairs. These and all the other ruins at Lahugala are all surrounded by peaceful forest which makes a visit to the place a most enjoyable experience.
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Lahugala is 2 km off the main Monoragala A?a??a?? Pottuvil road some 5 km from Potuvil.
CopyrightA?A? Ven. S Dhammika
source:
http://www.buddhistravel.com/index.php?id=60,512,0,0,1,0
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