Handing over of the first 50 completed houses
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
December 26, 2005

The sleepy fishing village of Hambantota (this is the Sinhalese rendition of the Malay words “Sampan kota” – “Harbour of small boats”; the name came from groups of Malays who settled here), a good six hours drive from Colombo, in southern Sri Lanka was one of the hardest hit areas during the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. As part of its reconstruction plans, the Sri Lankan government planned for a entirely new village named Siribopura (“Bodhi city”) just 10 minutes drive inland from Hambantota town. With 80% funding from the Singapore Red Cross Society’s Tsunami Relief Fund, the Buddhist Research Society led by Venerable B. Dhammaratana and assisted by Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara in Colombo, Sri Lanka, undertook the construction of 200 new houses in a 33 acres area in Siribopura, which is to have 2,000 houses. Due to escalation of material cost caused by massive reconstruction throughout the country, this was scaled back to 150 houses. On December 26, 2005, exactly one year after the tsunami, the first 50 houses was handed over to the local government. Below is the report of this event.

A self-funded team from the Buddhist Research Society consisting of Mr. David Ee (the main BRS coordinator for the project), Mrs. Ee, their daughter Ms. Ee Vanh Lin, Mr. Tan Yew Beng and Dr. Wong Weng Fai, President of BRS, arrived in Colombo on December 23, 2005. Bhante Dhammaratana had arrived two days earlier to see to the preparations. Volunteers from Bellanwila temple cut and wrapped pieces of white cloths meant for the making of school uniforms. These together with 500 new school bags (shipped in earlier), sweets, and soft toys (from the Red Cross) were to be given away to the victims and their families.

At 5am on Christmas Day, the group set out for Hambantota. On the road after Galle, we are constantly reminded of the destruction that was. Although it must be said that given the circumstances, the Sri Lankans have bravely picked up the pieces. Fishing seems to be back on track. One unfortunate thing was that the famous stilt fishing at Koggala no longer is practiced as the stilt fishermen there were given new fishing boats instead. Tourism, one of the main industries of the area, however, has yet to return to its hay days.

Upon arrival, the group worked through the night to get ready for the event the next day. Power to the area was not turned on till 4pm that day. This included readying a show house, and the mounting of the drawing boards onto the walls of one of the houses. Each house has two bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen area and a toilet.

The next day, we continued our preparations. By this time, the security measures have been significantly tightened. Around 10am, each of the venerable monks and volunteers present planted a tree.

Families designated by the local authority as recipients of the first 50 houses as well as nearby residents started arriving. We wasted no time in getting the children to start the painting. Most of the children painted houses, schools, and play. However, one Muslim girl around 12 or so painted what initially looked like a swan. But it turned out to be her recount of the tsunami with dead people and others praying and wailing. We were told that by the Red Cross staff that this was the norm when they did a similar project in Aceh. At least in Sri Lanka, there was only one such case while the other children seemed to have moved on psychologically. The finished product will eventually be put up in the village. For the moment, they have been transported back to Bellanwila temple for safekeeping.

Around 2.20pm, His Excellency the Honourable Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka arrived. He unveiled a commemorative stone tablet at the site. He later opened House Number One and gave away the keys to the family of Madam Matilda Fernando. Both parents of her two grandchildren were killed in the tsunami and their house was totally destroyed. The keys were given the President to Udaya Pushpakumara, the eldest of the two brothers.

In his speech, the President urged all Sri Lanka to put aside their differences and to work for the welfare of the tsunami victims and the country. The President then presented a token of appreciation to the Singapore Red Cross Society and the Buddhist Research Society. In return, the Singapore Red Cross Society presented a commemorative plaque to the President.

After the President left for another tsunami reconstruction handing over event at the Singapore Sinhala Association site, the remaining 49 recipients chosen by the Hambantota local government was presented with their certificate to their house. When running water is available in a month’s time, these recipients can finally move into the houses. In the meantime, they can prepare the house and its surrounding.

Thus on a sunny day one year after the disaster, the Buddhist Research Society delivered the first phase of its promise to the victims of the tsunami. It is our aim to complete the remaining 150 houses by the end of 2006. We are also planning to build a multifunction community hall that can serves as a gathering place, a school, and a clinic, as well as a playground. Depending on needs, we expect to follow this up with either more houses and/or communal living facilities. Our work is but a tiny drop in the ocean, but we hope that our modest effort will alleviate the suffering of some.

May all beings be free from fear
May all beings be free from distress
May all beings be well and happy