Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka Dedicates 1,000th Tsunami-recovery House

GALLE, 25th August 2006: Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka dedicated the 1,000th house of its tsunami-recovery program last weekend. The landmark house, in Venamulla, near Galle in the southern tip of the island, is the new home of L. Wasantha Lalman, his wife, W. Dilani Amaralatha, and their three children.

Tsunami-recovery program’s 1,000th house: homeowner L. Wasantha Lalman, his wife W. Dilani Amaralatha and their children, left to right, L. Rashi Nitasha, 11; L. Rashi Nimasha, 9; and L. Tharindu Avishka, 12.

The family welcomed more than 150 neighbors and friends as well as staff and volunteers of Habitat for Humanity for the dedication.

Mr. Elmo Perera, president of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka, presided at the event and planted a coconut tree.

The house was built with the collaboration of skilled laborers, family members and foreign volunteers. Wasantha, who had worked as a house painter before the tsunami, chose the colors and painted the house himself.

“This house is a good house and it is a great blessing to our family,” Wasantha said.

The house is one of nearly 450 that Habitat has completed in the southern coastal area with families affected by the December 2004 tsunami.