July 6th 2005 - Reporting from Hikkaduwa, SriLanka by Jayani Adikarama. 

The construction at the site is very much satisfactory. The builders are ahead of the time line that’s been given by REDECO.The foundation has been laid on all houses. The contactors have started building the walls. 4 of the houses are almost to the point of completion.

REDECO management- REDECO has appointed a new GM, Mr.Sujeewa Vitharana.>Also a new site engineer has been appointed from July 4th. He will start working with us shortly.Mr. Sujeewa Vitharana touched based with us on the 4th July regarding our project and the on going problems we had regarding the housing plan. 

MnSLFF will build 50 houses and a community center for the surviving families of the December 26, 2004 tsunami. Each two bedroom house, will have a full domestic infrastructure with clean water, electricity and a small garden for vegetables. The community center (4000 square feet, two story building) will accommodate a preschool, medical center in the lower level and a library in the upper level. MnSLFF received its largest donation of $274,000.00 from the Wave of Hope fund-raising activities conducted by the Shimek family and Apple Valley Foundation. More on progress of the construction work..

On May 19, 2005 at 12:21 pm. a small ceremony took place to mark the laying of the foundation stone for the Village Rebuilding project by MnSLFF in Hikkaduwa, SriLanka. 

The ceremony was officiated by guest of honor, Mr. Yadamini Gunewardena, representing the Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply and Mr. Granville Perera, past president of Federation for Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Sri Lanka, Mrs. Shayama Gunewardena the General Manger Land Reclamation and Development Company. Also present were MnSLFF chartered members, Mrs.Becky Guneratne and Mr.Jayantha Atukorala (Minnesota, USA) and Miss. Jayani Adikarama the Project Manager in Sri Lanka and Mr. Thilak Ratnayake (Sri Lanka). 

MnSLFF will build 50 houses and a community center for the surviving families of the December 26, 2004 tsunami. Each two bedroom house, will have a full domestic infrastructure with clean water, electricity and a small garden for vegetables. The community center (4000 square feet, two story building) will accommodate a preschool, medical center in the lower level and a library in the upper level. MnSLFF received its largest donation of $274,000.00 from the Wave of Hope fund-raising activities conducted by the Shimek family and Apple Valley Foundation. More on Foundation Laying Ceremony

The Minnesota-Sri Lanka Friendship Foundation (“MnSLFF”) received the first disbursement of $60,000 from the Apple Valley Foundation’s donor designated Tsunami Relief Fund on April 29, 2005. This was given to MnSLFF to commence the housing construction project in Galle District, Sri Lanka. More....