Welfare activities carried
out by the Janavijaya Foundation
Under the direction and advice of the current President of Janavijaya Foundation, the Chief Sanganayaka of North America the Venerable Maharagama Dhammsiri Thero and the Anunayaka of the Siri Dharmarakshita Nikaya the Venerable Tirikunamale Ananda Thero, the Janavijaya Foundation, with the aid and assistance of local and overseas organisations and Dayakas, has carried out the following relief work in areas devastated by the tsunami in memory of the most Venerable Madihe Mahanayake Thero and Venerable Gangodawila Soma Thero.
The Janavijaya Foundation in order to carry out various welfare activities in the Tsunami affected areas in order to carry out the above has formed a disaster relief fund by the name of Janavijaya Tsunami Relief Fund (J T R F) Bank account no 607480 Bank Of Ceylon Maharagama
Displaced Personsf
Camp:
26th, 27th 28th and 29th Dec 2004: Set up a camp at Royal College, Thelijjawila, providing relief and protection for displaced persons.
Working Bees
(Sharanadana)
Dec 26th, 27th and 28th: Under the leadership of Mr. Piyumantha Perera, this group cleared and cleaned up access roads to Ambalangoda and Weligama using 3 bulldozers. This was a greatly facilitated the distribution of relief aid in these areas.
Dec 29th 30th 31st: The Matara branch of Janavijaya organised and carried out a Shramadana to clear and clean up the areas around the Palene Gangaramaya, the Monkfs residence at Pelana and Mirisse Sunandaramaya. Over 60 young people from the Colombo, Kandy, and Ambalangoda branches of Janavijaya joined in to assist with this work.
Members of Janavijaya in Ambalangoda and Matara are carrying out surveys in all the camps and from residents in the areas to assess felt needs, which are reported to the foundation. It is indeed praiseworthy that this is an on-going effort and is carried out voluntarily.
Under the guidance of Janavijaya foundation with the assistance of doctors from the Anuradhapura General Hospital, health clinics were held at camps at the Kadolgala Subhadrarama, Charlie Industrialtown, Polatumodara Maha Vidyalaya and Udukava Junior College (Jan 1st). At Hikkaduwa and Godagama camps on Jan 4th, Camps in Hambantota on Jan 6-7, Ambalangoda, Kahawa, Nelwattam Godagama camps on Jan 9th, the camp at the Beruwala Central College on Jan 20th and at Boossa camp on Jan 26th.
On January 9th distribution of dry rations and household items in Kahawa, Nelwatta and Weligama was carried out.
Two hundred parcels containing household items and dry rations donated to the Janavijaya Foundation by Mr. Preethi Jayawardene and Mrs Nilmini Jayawardena of Fashion House, Bambalapitiya were distributed to displaced persons in Camps at the Kahawa Uduragoda Samarasinghe Mahindaramaya, Seenigama Nelwatte Pushparama, Weligama Palena Gangaramaya .
12th January / Madiha / Polhena / Distribution of Kitchen equipment, Mosquito nets and school equipment:
Distributed kitchen utensils to 50 families and mosquito nets to 500 families in the village of Madihe, the birthplace of the Most Venerable Madihe Mahanayaka Thero and at the Polhena Vihara. Distributed dry rations and mats to 50 families at Henawala Vihara.
Distributed school bags and stationery to 100 school children in the Nelwatte Pushparama camp. These items were donated by the Thisarana Foundation in the USA and the International Organisation for Peace and Kindness in Germany.
January 14 / 18:
Observational Tours: Youth groups carried out surveys in camps in the Matara district under the leadership of Venerable Diddenipotha Sumedha Thero of Telijjawila Samarasingharama and in Ambalangoda district under the leadership of Venerable Indrasara Thero of the Kahawa Mahindaramaya. Carrying out similar surveys in camps at Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia and providing items in short supply was another relief effort carried on this same day.
January 20th:
Awarding scholarships at
Telijjawila:
Under the scheme to provide long term scholarships to orphaned children and short term scholarships to GCE Ordinary and Advanced level students, 30 students were awarded scholarships at the Telijjawila Central College under the leadership of the Venerable Yatirawana Wimla Thero. Students were also given school equipment, uniforms, shoes and school bags. As the second stage of this project, information gathering is underway to award 50 further scholarships to students.
Later on the same day, mattresses and kitchen utensils were donated to 60 families at the Polhena Vihara.
Erecting a Buddha statue at the Moraketiara fishing Village in Tangalle together with conducting the first ever Buddha pooja in the village was carried out by the Matara Branch of the Janavijaya foundation. In conjunction with this on the same day, Buddha images were provided to all camps.
January 23 / Madihe /Matara Fort / distributing kitchen utensils, dry rations and donations to Temples.
Fifty families in Madihe were provided with kitchen equipment through donations by Sinhala dayakas in North Carolina, USA.
Displaced persons in the Matara Fort were provided with dry rations, tinned food, milk food and other items provided by Sri Lankans living in Melbourne, Australia, through Turunusaviya of Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara to the Janavijaya Foundation. Twenty temples that suffered damage from the tsunami were also provided with necessities and first aid boxes provided by Anoma Opticians.
January 25th / Meeting with the Prime Minister
Met the Prime Minister and informed him of the social service activities of Janavijaya Foundation and discussed the possibility of obtaining land for preschools.
January 28th and 29th / Shramadana was held to prepare parcels with items received from overseas.
January 30th / Sharamadana was held to prepare the land, drawing string and digging foundations at Kahawa, Uduwaragoda, where the Janjavijaya preschool building is to be constructed.
January 31st ? Meeting Mr. Mangala Samaraweera to inform the Minister about the social service activities of Janavijaya Foundation in the Matara district and the preschool being erected at Madihe village.
February 2nd / Conducted a Dharma sermon at the Hikkaduwa Maha Maya Girls College and provided lunch. All expenses were donated by Mrs. Ursula Bayer and the event was coordinated by Mr. Lakshman Mahanama.
February 3rd / A shramdana was held at the Maharagama Siri Vajiragnana Dharmayathanaya to collect and prepare parcels of kitchen utensils for 220 families.
February 4th / Foundation Stone ceremony and donating Kitchen equipment at Uduwaragoda.
Sponsored by the International Foundation for Peace and Kindness the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Janavijaya preschool and donating kitchen equipment to 220 families was held. On the same day, dry rations and clothing items received from Australia were distributed at the camp in Manthindaramaya. Venerable Gangodawila Soma Therofs mother and Mrs. Ursula Bayer of the International Organisation for Peace and Kindness participated in these events.
February 9th / Matara
Distribution of parcels consisting of dry-rations, tinned food and clothing items to displaced persons was carried out at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Ruhunu service building complex. A special meeting was held at 3:00 pm on the same day at the Matara Kachcheri to discuss obtaining land for preschools.
Lunch was provided to the displaced persons at the Dehiwela Subhodharama camp and kitchen utensils were distributed. This was sponsored by Mrs Ursula Bayer and Mr Lakshman Mahanama.
February 14th ? Weligama / Pelene Siri Vajiragnana College / Conducting the Janavijaya Sadaham Charika programme / Distributing school bags and school equipment to about 600 children. This programme was sponsored by dayakas from England and France and the Gwynn Hodge Organisation.
February 17th
and 18th Ampara-Kalmunai
Distributed kitchen utensils to 325 displaced families in the Pandirippuva village funded by The Universal Association For Peace and Love. For this occasion Ms Ursula Bayer of this society participated.
February 19th and 20th
Shramadana(voluntary service) camp at Ambalangoda Kahawa Pre School site with the participation of villagers in the area and the Janavijaya members from colombo.
February 22nd
A Dhamma Preaching session and a lunch to children at Mahamaya school in Hikkaduwa were given. This will be continued as a weekly programme. A survey to identify suitable recipients for scholarships were done from Ambalangoda to Galle.
February 25th 26th and
27th
Continued the identification of the suitable recipients for scholarships from Galle to Dikwella.We selected the Dikwella Batheegama Central College as an Institute receiving support from Janavijaya.
Most Ven Cealo Maha Thero from Japan who is a close associate of Ven Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero arrived in Sri Lanka. He visited the Tsunami affected area with us for three days. During this visit he donated in cash and kind to Temples and families affected by the Tsunami. He provided a substantial amount of funds to the J T R F to commence self employment projects.
Provided lunch to children at Batheegama Central College. This will be continued as a weekly programme. On this day School books Stationary were handed over to the students. This too was under the patronage of The Universal Association For Peace and Love. For this occasion Ms Ursula Bayer of this society also participated.
March 11th and 12th.
Commenced the construction of the Pre School in the China Bay Temple in Trincomalee with the participation by the members of Janavijaya Colombo and Kandy branches.
Twenty-five children at Ambalangoda and 25 children at Matara were given scholarships under the patronage of The Universal Association For Peace and Love. Each scholarship amounts to Rs 2000 and this will be continued till the child completes the education.
(This project was the brain child of
Ven Cealo. The idea of this project is to provide financial assistance to
selected capable persons on a soft loan basis. The opportunities for these
persons are there within the Tsunami affected areas as there is a demand in the
construction field.)
Meeting with
Representatives of Ven Cealo who arrived on the 18th evening. Regarding Cement
Brick manufacturing Project and other plans of
Janavijaya self employment schemes.
A Sramadana campaign was held at
Kahawa with the participation of the Japanese Delegation and the people of the
area on the 20th and 21st.
The inspection of the installed cement brick
plants by Ven Cealo's Representatives.
Preliminary work of the proposed Seemamalakaya of Sri Vijayaramaya of Akurala Ambalangoda which was destroyed due to Tsunami was done with the participation of the people in the area.
Conducted a Sramadana to pack three 20ft container loads of relief goods sent from Malaysia to be distributed among the Tsunami victims.
Religious ceremonies in memory of the Tsunami victims took place at Samaraseeha Manthindaramaya in Kahawa three months after the tragedy.
Under the patronage of the people of North Carolina a Sramadana campaign was held at the above premises.
Religious ceremonies were held at Kahawa and Telwatta in memory of the Tsunami victims with the participation of Priests from Maharagama.
Discussion was held with the Delegation from North Carolina regarding the Rebuilding of the Pelene Vajiragnana school in weligama.
Distributed the items received from Malaysia among 200 families in Kottegoda (Matara District).
Installed Commissioned and handed over a Cement Brick machine in Godagama Matara
The foundation stone of the house to a Tsunami victim was laid at Pamburana Matara.
Distributed gifts to children at Janavijaya pre school in Gandara Matara.
Packed and processed Dry Rations, Clothing, and sorted out the Pharmaceuticals received by Janavijaya from various Donors.
The foundation stone of the Shrine room of the Sri Dhammaratana School of Mihiripenna Galle was laid under the patronage of Sakyamuni Buddhist Vihara Society of Australia.
The foundation stone of the proposed seemamalakaya of Sri Vijayaramaya Akurala Ambalangoda under the patronage of Sakyamuni Buddhist Vihara Society of Australia.
Distributed stationary and books to the teachers and students of the Dhamma School of this Temple.
Distributed Dry Rations, Crockery, (Sivu Pasa), to Temples destroyed in Kahawa and Hikkaduwa. These items were from the donations received from Malaysia and donors in Sri Lanka.
An inspection tour to all projects in the south was carried out with the participation of Professionals of relevant fields.
Inspection tour to Walawe, Kirinda and Bundala (Deep South), And the Southern Province was done.
Distributed 26 First Aid kits to selected Sunday Schools in Kegalle District.
A special thanks to the members of the Janavijaya Matara and Ambalangoda For their dedicated service should be given.
These welfare activities will be on going. You too will be able to sponsor these activities and help our foundation by carrying out group shramadana activities, providing items for preschools, providing information of these activities or providing the Janavijaya Tsunami Welfare Fund account Number: 0550146991 to interested parties, providing transport, providing items for displaced person.
Venerable Rajawelle Subhuthi Thero
Coordinator ? Tsunami Welfare services
Janavijaya Foundation
011 2746010
071 4177714