Ongoing Projects: Sri Lanka Sri Lanka: Second Project Hambantota Manacare has accepted land in this Eastern town from Mr Doole, a private donor, and will carry out a duplicate of the first project in cooperation with the Malay Association of Sri Lanka. Deeds of the land will show Joint ownership between the two associations. Funds to erect the project and sustain it for the first year are being negotiated en bloc with a private donor in Sri Lanka, once funds are available preparation of the land will commence. Mr Doole and his committee of local lawyers, accountants and teachers are securing all necessary permissions to build on the land. Mr Doole is preparing a Helicoptor Landing Pad on the site adjacent to the new land. Mr Doole is also arranging to have all crocodiles removed from the lake on the East side of the land.   A Canadian donor is donating sufficient funds to build ten houses as soon as we are ready to commence, also discussions are being held with an Israeli consortium who have 100,000 US dollars to donate specifically for housing. It is expected that this group will agree to invest the money in housing on the Manacare land. The area is famous for growing cashew nuts, also some of the biggest prawns in Sri Lanka are caught off this coastline. At first sight the Ambulangoda-Telwatta region seems the worst hit by Tsunami, but looking in depth at the situation it is evident that the infrastructure of Hambantota was totally destroyed, so much so that the Government are considering relocating the High Street which was once the Hub of a thriving community and tourist area.      Bricks take 36 hours to dry in the sun Trincomalee Manacare has entered into a Joint Project with the United Assemblies of God in Trincomalee and provided all tools necessary to commence repairing extensive damage to homes in this northern territory. Our four brick making machines are in operation sometimes 20 hours a day, as are our carpentry tools.. To date 147 families have been rehoused, doors and windows being made on site, bricks are also being made on site and weather permitting, output is sufficient to continue repairing many more houses damaged by Tsunami. Manacare also has a sewing programme in this area and has donated machines, training, and locally purchased fabrics to provide the newly repaired homes with curtains and bed linen. School uniforms are also being made for local children. All labour is either voluntary or from local families affected by Tsunami. The purple Manacare tractor can be seen collecting trees and delivering completed doors, windows and bricks. A deposit has been made on land in this northern town, 12,000 euros is needed to secure ownership of the land. Mr David Nicholl and Pastor Sathay are in active negotiation with several overseas businessmen with regard to the provision of funds, to secure the land to build, and also to sustain the project. Manacare will oversee the project and will supply volunteers when possible. It is hoped that Manacare can also assist in raising some of the 12,000 necessary to secure ownership of the site as quickly as possible, 75,000 euros will be needed to complete the project, but this can be raised as building progesses. A coconut plantation has been given to help sustain the project. The Way Forward Plans are being made to make a promotional film later in 2005, sponsorship is being sought for this purpose by a film director in Spain who intends to take a crew of cameramen in September or October. The film will act as a fund raising tool, a confirmation to our existing donors that their money has been used wisely, and an educational tool which it is hoped will encourage volunteers to offer their services both immediately and in the future. Jeremy Thompson of Sky TV is also interested in covering the progress of each project. Applications will be made to the larger organizations around the World for finances to enable us to expedite completion of the three projects. Applications will also be made for start-up funding for the self sustainability programmes. Three eminent surgeons have been identified and have agreed to work for one month per year for the next five years. Nine more doctors or surgeons are needed as volunteers so that the Sri Lankan doctors have the benefit of the best professional advice whilst building up the Manacare clinic and its services.

Containers of supplies were sent from Spain and Gibraltar and the supplies now need to be sorted and stored properly, it is hoped volunteers during the summer of 2005 can help with this task. The Government confiscated much of the toys and medical items from the first three containers, but after much correspondence all goods have now been made available to be returned These supplies have to be collected from Colombo and sorted. All medical supplies need to be recorded onto the computer. Importance now has to be focused on completing the first project at Tellwatta so that work can start on the second and third projects at Hambantota and Trincomalee Volunteer help during both the setting up stages, and the ongoing operations, will be of utmost importance, and it is sincerely hoped that these volunteers will form a long term interest in helping Manacare to rebuild the lives of so many which have been so badly affected by Tsunami.

There is much work to be done, there is a need for YOUR skill whatever that may be.