Appeal from Dr. Jayantha Cooray

Jayantha Cooray is my brother, a Family Physician, who grew up in Galle and now lives and works in the southern Sri Lanka town of Tissamaharama. Please read the attached note from him and help in any way you can.

The area he lives in (Hambantota District) is a sparsely populated part of Sri Lanka. A very large percentage of this population earn their living from the sea and have been directly affected by the disaster. There is a very real possibility that they may get left behind, lost & forgotten in the current media driven shuffle. The following disaster statistics (3 January 2005) for this area were published in a report compiled by the Sri Lanka Jesuits. (If any one is interested please post a comment and I will forward the entire report)

Affected Families: 5471
Displaced Persons: 27351
Deaths: 4500
Injured:
Missing:
Camps: 96
Damaged Houses
Complete: 3895
Partial: 4862

-----Original Message-----
From: jayantha cooray [mailto:jccooray@sltnet.lk]
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 2:08 AM
Subject: appeal from jayantha cooray

Dear friends and family,
Tony and Tricia Rice, from Arizona, U.S.A sent me U.S. $ 900[S.L. Rs.89079] to be used by my family if needed and for use in our tsunami devastated area. Our immediate family was mercifully spared, but Dilly's family home in Fort, Matara was completely destroyed. Her 2 brothers lost all their possessions and one sister in law is still missing. I think our immediate family is strong enough to see to the needs of our own.

Tony was an engineer working in the Lunugamwehera project in 1985. We became friends but had not contacted each other for 20 years. This magnanimous gesture by them in our time of need has inspired me to mobilize funds to help our unfortunate brethren in Tissamaharama. The initial plan is to build three houses for a Buddhist, Christian and Muslim family who lost their homes. If this is not possible, due to government regulations etc. [Like yesterday's banning of reconstruction within 300 metres from the sea] I hope to give boats, fishing nets, agricultural implements, school equipment etc. Which will help to restart the devastated lives of our people. I will personally account for every cent contributed and will send accounts and progress reports as we go on. So my dear friends and family, please contribute generously and motivate your friends and family to do the same.

I have opened an account at SAMPATH BANK, TISSAMAHARAMA, SRI LANKA, with the initial U.S. $900, for you to contribute directly. The a/c no. is 1028-5011-3960/ Dr.S.J.V.Cooray (Sort Code: 028/Swift Code: BSAMLKLX) .The bank has got a radio link and the manager, Kasun Fernando, has kindly offered to forward any e-mail messages with your contributions. His e-mail address is; Tissa.mgr@sampath.lk in case my phones/email malfunctions.

Shall write in detail later.
With best wishes,

Jayantha and Dilly Cooray

Dispensary and Surgery
+94-47-223-7282

No; 2/2 new lane
+94-47-223-7283

Tissamaharama.
Sri Lanka.