Plan Sri Lanka has been working hard on its many initiatives to help and support communities that were affected by the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. It has invested over 20 million US Dollars in its Tsunami response program, which includes housing, education, health, livelihoods and child protection projects, with funding from over 15 different countries. As with all its projects, Plan has paid special attention to involving children in the design, planning and implementation of these initiatives. One of the largest of the post-tsunami housing projects, the new Child-friendly Village at Yayawatte consisting of 200 homes was officially opened on October 12, 2006. Most of the beneficiaries have already settled down in their new homes and many have already added their own personal touches to decorate their homes.

The project, which was funded and sponsored by Germany’s leading travel company - TUI, and Plan Germany, gave families who lost everything in the tsunami a new beginning. TUI Director of Communications Uwe Kattwinkel and National Director Plan Germany, Marianne Raven came all the way from Germany to attend this memorable occasion. Urban Development and Water Supply Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, Railway Development Minister and Water Supply Deputy Minister, Mahinda Amarawera and Provincial Development Minister and Housing Construction Deputy Minister, Gunaratne Weerakoon were the chief guests at the opening ceremony.

PSL has also assisted 200 families to rebuild their homes on a self-help basis, and our support for this project in Hambantota and Galle continues with construction of another 200 houses in progress.

The upgrading and improving of twelve schools in tsunami-affected areas is also nearing completion and the primary section of the new Ruhunu School was opened in February 2007. Other important initiatives that have been aimed at healing the deep psychological scars left by the disaster include the publication and distribution of a children’s book, ‘Happy Sad letterboxes’ left in schools to encourage children to express their feelings, and support of a nationwide tour of a play performed by children affected by the tsunami.