Please visit  Sarana Padanama for latest project updates.

Within First Few Days After The Tsunami Hit: 

• On the 26th December evening, Dharmapala Institute initiated a Disaster Aid Program at an emergency community meeting. Calls went out for monetary donations and clothes, and thanks to the committed efforts of members of the community, and wide media coverage in several TV news programs, English and Spanish radio stations, and in Bay Area news papers, word spread quickly.
• On December 28, we shipped 97 boxes of clothing weighing some 2,500 lbs. to Sri Lanka via DHL Shipping Company.

• On December 30, we shipped over 200 boxes of clothing. Altogether 500+ packs of clothing already sent or on its way to Sri Lanka- 12/28/2004.
• We immediately contacted our affiliated charitable organization in Sri Lanka, Sarana Padanama (Sarana Foundation).
• Our Institute member, Suriyakumar (President, American Reprographics) and Chandramohan (CEO of American Reprographics) have contributed $100,000 and sent to Kanchana Ginigalgodage, President of Dharmapala Institute who is currently in Sri Lanka, to be used as needed.
• Airlifted 7 pallets of antibiotics and airlifting water purification plants.
• Free calling provision to Hotline numbers in Sri Lanka, setup by our member Sathya Weerasooriya.
• Pirith ceremony for New Year & Blessings to relieve the distress occurring in Sri Lanka: 01/01/2005 (See pics)
• Ven. Shanta at Stanford Hospital Tsunami Event : 01/06/2005 - (See Pics)

Relief Effort Summary in SRI LANKA.

Within Few Days After Tsunami:

• Disaster Relief Efforts Launched by Sarana Padanama (under the leadership of Venerable Gnanaweera our affiliate) in Sri Lanka.
• Short-term relief efforts by Sarana Padanama, provided immediate needs in southern Sri Lanka.
• The president of the Dharmapala Institute, Kanchana Ginigalgodage in Sri Lanka promptly reacted to provide immediate needs for 1900 displaced people stranded in Subodharamaya Temple, Dehiwala on 12/30/2004.

• Sarana Padanama undertook cleaning 50 wells in Habaraduwa area by pumping out the salt water and extending further to 30 more.
• Sarana Padanama Completed cleaning 75 wells in Habaraduwa 01/04/2005.

Latest Activities & Progress (Sarana Padanama) 

• Total of 115 wells which were contaminated with sea water was cleaned and disinfected.
• In order to build houses a brick making project to be launched at the Makandugoda Temple. One or two brick making machines will be purchased.
• Launching of a Childrens' Society at Makandugoda Temple . The aim is to teach and guide children to take up leadership roles (Economic hardships, deviation from religious principles, lethargy and alcoholism are prevalent in this village).
• Details of the recent visit by Ven. Gnanaweera and Ven. Wimalaratana of Berkeley Buddhist Vihara, USA to Habaraduwa Village. 01/15/2005.

• Identified first village to be rebuild as Habaraduwa. 01/04/2005
• Possibility of rebuilding more villages, details to be provided once available…..

      This is only the beginning of an Aid Program that aims to rebuild lives of a people whose loved ones, and whose hopes and dreams, were destroyed so unexpectedly and so tragically.
        Local and international relief agencies, as well as all of us who have such fond memories of those beaches, know that it will be several years before normalcy can be restored in the area. This is because homes, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, shops, hotels, railroads, and communication systems have been destroyed in the disaster areas, drinking water contaminated, and rotting corpses are causing dangerous diseases.
        Dharmapala Institute has decided to channel all donations received by the institute for Tsunami Relief to Sarana Padanama. We wish these funds to be used expressly for the purpose of long term rehabilitation of people affected from the disaster. We particularly, would like the monies to be used to build houses and schools in a selected village. If however, the government is funding the building of schools the money should then be used for building houses. The money may also be used to buy equipment, vehicles and tools etc. that would be useful in the house building program which could then be used in continuing charitable work done by Sarana Padanama. The money may also be used for temporary and immediate rehabilitation of orphaned children and establishing a children’s center to fight malnutrition and provide psychosocial support and education. We have requested a confirmation from Sarana Padanama, that they will dedicate the funds for these activities only. On receipt of confirmation we will display this on our website and continue to raise more funds for such activities.

• We will transfer all the donations to the Tsunami disaster fund to be used for the benefit of the victims. We do not keep even a cent from this money.
• We will ensure your money will be used effectively, only for the cause and go to the needy.
• We will work as volunteers, spend our own money for traveling and other expenses and use our own vacation time for relief activities.
• We will provide details of how the money is spent as soon as it is available. (Knowing the history of Sarana Padanama, of the excellent work of rebuilding villages, we are more than confident).

• More Relief Effort Pictures in Milpitas, CA