ASIA/SRI LANKA Post-tsunami efforts to build new homes and resettle the homeless continue, government re-launches tourism as a channel of solidarity

Tuesday, 3 May 2005

Colombo (Fides Service) - Post-tsunami return to normality in Sri Lanka proceeds with difficulty despite efforts by civic authorities, NGOs as well as local religious community aid agencies,.
The final toll for the December 26 tragedy was 40,000 dead including 9,000 children and 6,000 missing 90,000 homes destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people living in government tent camps. Some, like fishermen and their families, opted not to go to the camps but to stay in makeshift dwellings near the beaches where they can build new boats and start fishing again. The local Church, active in offering assistance since the tragedy struck, is also involved in re-settling the homeless and build new homes.
Representatives of the local Church have written to Fides to thank the Church all over the world for generous assistance and especially through the Pontifical Mission Societies in America, Britain, Australia, France. With the funds received the Pontifical Mission Societies in Sri Lanka supported several projects for rebuilding homes and providing schooling for homeless children. In fact the psychological side of assistance is just as important as material aid. People need help to overcome their grief and mourning and look at life with hope. Community leaders must be trained to instil hope among the people.
In the meantime the government has launched a Bounce Back Sri Lanka campaign organised by the National Tourism Board to promote tourism to improve the national economy. In this way tourism will be a channel of solidarity. Sri Lanka, for Marco Polo “the most beautiful island in the world” intends to make use of its artistic, natural and cultural heritage damaged by the tsunami but not annihilated. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 3/5/2005 Righe: 27 Parole: 275)


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