wfn.org | Tidal wave disaster in Sri Lanka, from the Bishop of Colombo

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3925 | SRI LANKA | 31 DECEMBER 2004

Tidal wave disaster in Sri Lanka, from the Bishop of Colombo

A communiqué from the Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo

A disaster of unprecedented proportion hit Sri Lanka on the morning of Sunday
26 December. The tidal wave Tsunami left a trail of destruction in many
countries of South Asia but Sri Lanka appears to have been the worst affected.
As I write this, nearly 22,000 persons have been confirmed dead.
Several more are still reported missing and the numbers of dead keep rising
each new day. Many of the dead are the elderly and young children. Over
2,500,000 persons have been displaced from their homes. The destruction to
property is inestimable. Whole villages have been wiped out. All this came
close on the heels of major floods and earthslips that occurred in the same
affected areas only a few weeks ago. The North-Eastern and the Southern
coastal areas of the country have borne the brunt of the disaster. Apart from
the physical destruction, the people are in a state of trauma and shock. These
are the many challenges that confront us now.

Teams from our Church and the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka are
visiting all the affected areas to take stock, assess the real needs and
provide relief. I myself have already visited the Trincomalee and Batticaloa
districts in the East where I saw the huge destruction that had
taken place. Tomorrow, I visit the Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts in
the South. We were able to provide some immediate relief in the form of
dry rations for cooking, sleeping mats, basic medical supplies, baby milk
powder, drinking water and cooking utensils. These visits are also an act of
solidarity with both the affected of all ethnic groups and faiths as well as
the many clergy and lay persons who are actively involved in providing comfort
and relief to the displaced.

Our needs are enormous. Thanks to the overwhelming response we have had
locally, we are able to provide some immediate relief. This will have to
continue for at least six months as houses have to be rebuilt for most of the
affected. There is also a need for para-medical and trauma counselling
personnel who can assist local voluntary efforts. It is long-term
rehabilitation rebuilding houses, providing the wherewithal for economic
livelihood (replacing destroyed fishing boats, restoring farmlands together
with inputs for farming, rehabilitating small businesses, etc) - that is going
to be the biggest challenge.

I should therefore like to appeal to our friends and partners to support us
with whatever financial assistance that is possible for this work. Funds
can be transferred to the account of the Bishop of Colombo Account Number
01-102324101 with Standard Chartered Bank, Fort Branch, Colombo (SWIFT
Address: SCBLLKLX). For those who prefer to provide material assistance
(tarpaulin tents, light roofing sheets, other building materials, etc), kindly
contact us and we shall let you know our needs. We also ask for your
prayers for all those affected by this tragedy and for all involved in
providing assistance. If you require any clarification or further information,
please feel free to contact Lanka or Ruwanthi my office.

I may also update you on the position of our own Church. None of our clergy
and workers have lost their lives, though many are still suffering from shock
and have suffered loss of property in varying degrees. One of our Vicarages
has been completely destroyed; some churches, vicarages and church property
have suffered lesser damage.

Some of you may already have received a communication from our Diocesan
Secretary. Many of you have called or emailed us with messages of solidarity,
support and assurance of prayers. We are grateful and apologise
if we are not able to acknowledge individually. Please feel free to share this
with other friends of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Church.

+ Duleep de Chickera Bishop of Colombo

The Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, 368 Bauddhaloka
Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka. Telephone: +9411-2684810 Fax: +9411-
2684811e-mail:bishop@eureka.lk

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