Update on Singhapura Maitri Gama (August 2006)

On 11 August 2006, some volunteers from the Buddhist Library were in Hambantota, Sri Lanka to give out more furnishing items for the next 25 houses, bringing a total of 75 householders receiving items comprising a bed, mattress, pillows, cupboard and a table fan.  As the entire housing project consist of 150 houses, the balance 75 houses are undergoing contruction and is scheduled to be completed by Dec 2006.

During this visit to Hambantota, the volunteers and Bhante felt that an external kitchen would be beneficial to the householders as they use firewood for cooking and presently their cooking were done in makeshift open air kitchens in their backyards. These haphazard kitchens are loosely erected with wooden planks, zinc sheets, plastic sheets or bags as well as fallen tree branches. Plans are now drawn up to equip all the householders with a proper external kitchen in their backyards. Also in the pipeline are plans to add one community centre with a library and a children’ playground to this housing project.

The total cost for the entire project would be about S$1.3million and thanks to the Tidal Waves Fund from the Singapore Red Cross Society and donations collected by the Buddhist Research Society, the rebuilding of lives for the tsunami victims in the Singhapura Maitri Gama is finally taking shape.