A Victoria State Government delegation visited the completed Victoria Gardens housing complex in Seenigama in November 2009- their first visit since the official opening of the tsunami housing complex in December 2007. They experienced an action packed day of tours and local activities. The visitors arrived at the MCC Centre of Excellence in the last of the season’s torrential rain, but even this could not dampen the sunny reception and impression they took back with them from the centre and villagers they kindly supported.

The visit was organised by Sue Williams, Manager of International Aid Development with the Victoria State Government, who facilitated the provision of this wonderful housing complex in Seenigama which includes 84 duplex homes, a community centre, water treatment plant and play park, built for those who had  lived within 100m of the beach and lost everything in the tsunami.

The group were taken on a tour of the centre in Seenigama, accompanied by a presentation from the founder and trustee Kushil Gunasekera about the many sectors in which the Foundation improves the quality of life for those in the surrounding area. During the tour they took in the women’s enterprise, medical and dental, computer and teaching areas, and were charmed by some spontaneous singing from the pre-school children awaiting a Christmas party.

On arrival at Victoria Gardens the guests were welcomed with flower garlands by Youth Goodness Members at the village community centre, before viewing an exhibition of local children’s artwork from a competition and dancing from the centre attendees. “The paintings reflect very well my understanding of Sri Lanka, showing fishing on the coast, elephants inland, and the bright and attractive countryside” noted Hon. Judy Maddigan, the Member for Essendon and former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The rest of the group were similarly impressed, with the Hon. Liz Beattie, the Member for Yuroke and Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, commenting in her speech “I think your drawings are wonderful. The figures represent that you’re very close to your roots and reflect a lot of what I’ve seen in Sri Lanka culturally…very well done; thank you on behalf of the Victoria Government.”

The guests from Australia, including Hon. Khalil Eideh, the Member for Western Metropolitan Region, and Hon. Jude Perera, Member for Cranbourne, accompanied by Mr. Bandu Dissanayake Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Victoria and current volunteer Kendall from the UK then presented certificates and awards for the art competition, which had been organised by the Youth Goodness Members, with the kind addition of toy Koala bears from the Victorian delegation.

The tour included visiting one of the village houses, as well as the playground and shop. The delegation also met the Seenigama Ladies cricket team, which was of particular excitement to the group who were interested to note their outstanding efforts, as Victoria has the oldest women’s cricket team in the world, at an impressive 105 years.

Overall the visit was a great success, well summarised by Hon. Liz Beattie, who said “Sri Lanka and Australia are very far apart in distance, but out hearts are close together…we can hand in hand make a better future together, and that’s what we’ve seen today”.

A congratulatory speech to the children from Kushil highlighted the massive contribution the government and people of Victoria made to restoring and improving the villager’s lives, noting that 85% of families are living in better conditions in their new homes than those they had before the tsunami, proclaiming

“we make a living from what we get,
we make a life by what we give”.

2010.01.18