Government of Sri Lanka / President recognize TRO with
award for construction of post–tsunami transitional shelters
Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) received an award on 22 August 2005
from Her Excellency President Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in recognition of its contribution to the Transitional
Accommodation Project (TAP). The President invited representatives of the UN
Agencies, and International and Local NGO's to Tea at the President's House where
a ceremony was held to mark the building of 50,000 temporary shelters for tsunami
affected families. The President thanked all of the organizations present for their
outstanding work in reaching this goal so despite the enormity of the natural disaster
that Sri Lanka experienced on 26/12/04. TRO was recognized for building 3,240
temporary shelters.
To date TRO has completed over 8,500 temporary shelters.
The TAP project was coordinated by the Task Force for Relief (TAFOR). TRO was
one nine of NGO's and INGO's recognized for building over 1,000 Temporary
Shelters
TRO has built transitional shelters that meet, or exceed, TAFOR's minimum
standards in the districts of Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Amparai.
The transitional shelters were constructed with cement floors, walls brick and tin or
masonite, and roofs of cadjan or cooling sheets.
The building of the temporary shelters was coordinated through TRO's District
Offices using local engineers for technical advice and management. Where
available, local skilled and unskilled labour was employed in the districts to complete
the construction and provide a source of income to the tsunami affected
populations. All temporary shelters were built with access to potable water and toilets.
Access by the communities to schooling and health services is ensured by a team of
camp managers and community based organisations.
While more than 8,500 transitional shelters have been constructed there is still
significant work to be undertaken to improve upon these shelters, provide
permanent housing, improve village infrastructure and create a sustainable
economy in the tsunami and war affected areas. TRO is seeking additional funding
to ensure that this work continues in these areas.
TRO thanks the Her Excellency the President for her recognition of the efforts of
TRO's 3,500 staff, 10,000 volunteers, in the NorthEast and internationally through
TRO's 16 offices worldwide, who have all worked tirelessly over the past eight
months to alleviate the suffering of the Tsunami and War Affected populations of the
NorthEast. We hope that this relationship develops along these positive lines as it is
the alleviation of the suffering of the Tsunami affected persons that is of paramount
importance.
Speeches at the ceremony were also given by Mr. Tilak Ranaviraja (Chairman
TAFOR), Mr. Miguel Bermeo (UN Resident Representative, UNDP), Ms. Jo Da Silva
(UNHCR), Ms. Mary Sheehan (IOM), Ms. Suriya Kumari (OfERR Ceylon), and Mr.
Tapan Kumar Barman (Sevalanka).
The award was accepted by Arjunan Ethirveerasingam on behalf of the TRO's staff,
volunteers, and partner organisations throughout the world.
For further information please contact:
Lal Gunawardene
Information Officer TRO
Phone: +94 (0) 11 269 3254
OR
Arjunan Ethirveerasingam
Project Development Manager / Housing
Phone: +94 (0) 11 269 3254
Mobile: 077 674 6594
arjunan100@yahoo.com