Update on the 100 meter Zone Residents

The tsunami has brought hardship to every family in Seengiama but there is no doubt that the worse affected are the families and individuals who previously lived in the 100 meter zone - closest to the sea. There are approximately 110 Seenigama families in this category. Not only have their homes and all possessions been completely destroyed, but they have also been prevented from rebuilding on their existing properties.

The Foundation of Goodness has been working very closely with these residents to plan for their future housing needs and prosperity. The most important question has been where do these people want to live? Kushil has recently met with all the people located in this zone and asked for their input and feedback.

As a result, the Foundation of Goodness will assist relocate the families to new houses on new land within the Seenigama village but beyond the 100m zone. We have secured three fantastic pieces of land and to the delight of the recipients, their new homes will be close to where they previously lived.

The City of Perth, AVIVA (Norwich Union Bank) and the Victorian State Government are the key donors in this major housing project. We are immensely grateful to these generous organizations for assisting these families to get back on track. The vision is to create a modern, sustainable intrinsically Sri Lankan village where the families have access to all amenities. We strive for the highest standards and look forward to achieving a positive future for the people who have suffered so much in the past. It will be model for others in Sri Lanka to aim for.

The entire project will be complete by the first anniversary of the tsunami. The residents of the 100m zone have already suffered immensely and it is our goal to settle them as soon as possible. In the interim, the Foundation has gifted grocery packs to each 100m zone family for one month, facilitated temporary shelter and assisted families with extra cover as the rainy season has arrived. These people are truly suffering, but we are working as hard as possible to alleviate the hardship and actually provide a higher standard of living to what they had prior to the tsunami.