Members' Forum

Cyclone 2025

Cyclone Ditwah has wrought severe devastation across Sri Lanka. News reports indicate that as at 1st December heavy rainfall and landslides have killed over 350 people, with 367 missing, with around 200,000 people reported to be in temporary shelters.

We note that some homes have been destroyed and badly damaged, while infrastructure (railways, roads and power lines) has been disrupted. Flooding has struck eastern, central and low-lying western areas, including some parts of the capital, Colombo. The Government of Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency and began issuing alerts province-wide while rescue operations continue.

For official maps and real-time information on affected areas, including district-level flooding and landslide reports, you can visit the website of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka: http://www.dmc.gov.lk/

Different Appeals - Below you will find information we have received through FoSLA Members (who are either in Sri Lanka or support charities that are working on the ground in Sri Lanka to aid in the relief efforts) and also information about the Government of Sri Lanka's Appeal being led in the UK by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, advising on how you can contribute financially to disaster-relief efforts.

FoSLA Members Farzana Dobbs and Neil Dobbs at Rosyth Estate House in Kegalle, Sri Lanka report that the sun has finally shone for the first time in a week. Power, internet and mobile phone signals have returned. Their main road is still blocked but they have alternative access and life is slowly returning to normal. They have launched a justgiving page to help those in nearby communities who have lost everything. Click the above link to find out more and/or make a donation. Farzana writes on her FB page: "Please don’t stay away from Sri Lanka — your visits support recovery, jobs and hope. We are resilient, and we will rise again."

FoSLA Member, Devaki Perera, has been supporting the work of Australian charity Palmera.org for a few years now. Thanks to generous donors Palmera has smashed its original target and is keen to do more to help people in Sri Lanka. Devaki informs us that Palmera's website includes a breakdown of how donations of $145,000 AUD have been allocated, please click the link Palmera.org/Cyclone25 to find out more and how you can make a donation.

FoSLA Members, Sally and Jerry Martin of Jungle Tide in Hantana, Sri Lanka inform us that the Tea Project (which they have been supporting for many years) is a UK registered charity (No. 1163485) seeking secure donations via PayPal. Mark your donation "AID" to ensure 100% goes to the purchase of essential aid. Click the blue links herein to find out more and/or donate. We are told that the donations are being used to provide essential supplies to many tea estate families who are either cut off from supplies or have been made homeless by the damage / destruction of their homes. Jerry advises us that around "40 families are currently sleeping in a local primary school. All roads up to the Hantana area including to Jungle Tide are seriously damaged and will probably take weeks to reopen even on a temporary basis though we are struggling to find any details regarding infrastructure repairs as understandably the efforts are currently on rescuing and supporting people. Jungle Tide itself has suffered no serious damage."

The Sri Lanka High Commission in London letter dated 29 November, circulated by Bruce Rawlings (our Membership Secretary) provides UK-based donors with the bank details for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka which is accepting donations in GBP to support disaster relief efforts. Following Sunday's meeting at the High Commission, the High Commissioner, Mr Nimal Senadheera has extended his praise to the UK community for its generosity and has humbly requested for places of worship “to conduct religious observances on Saturday 6 December at 7pm in memory of those who lost their lives, and to offer prayers for strength and healing for those injured and displaced.”

FoSLA Member, David Panter delivers a stark account of conditions in Sri Lanka providing a snapshot of the 9pm News (SL time) on 1 December: 366 deaths, 367 missing... rivers still rising inspite of two days of sun. Compounding problems of landslides... [over] 30 inches of rain. In the North, bridges have collapsed, 15 of which are on major roads needed for delivery of food, medicine and other essentials... fallen trees and debris everywhere.... making rescue and medical aid very difficult to distribute. "Here today I must have seen twenty helicopters working their way East.... Amazingly we still have electricity and water but that must be boiled... being on the spot brings one into focus with the destitution of the rural communities.... At Victoria, .... we have not been affected except to have witnessed 32 inches of rain falling in six days." David recommends contributions be channelled through the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which he says is working closely with the Government and is “being monitored to obtain the best value for money.”

Financial donations: A/c Name: The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Disaster Relief Fund; A/c No. 0009 6000 1257; Swift Code: BSAMLKLX; Sampath Bank (Nawam Mawatha Branch). Please drop Ms Manori Dissanayaka at the chamber an email when donating with your contact details: manori@chamber.lk

Material donations: on the guidance of the DMC, the Chamber also has a collection point at its premises at 50 Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02 for specific items, namely: drinking water, toothbrushes, towels, mops, brooms and gloves / bed linen, detergent / washing powder, sanitary towels, / clothes for men, women and children.

Auguri Supports Palmera

FoSLA Member and Investment Manager Devaki Perera launched her own brand of womenswear Auguri – high end women’s fashion, invites you to look at the work of the charity Palmera which accelerates the path to a living income so families in Sri Lanka can stand on their own two feet. Auguri is donating the sale of ten stunning silk scarves from their last collection to Palmera. Each scarf is now only £40. Read more here and find out how you can contribute https://www.auguri.uk/collections/the-givers-edit

Tsunami Charity Fundraiser 18 December, 6.30pm

FoSLA Member Lalith De Kauwe gives notice of the Sri Lankan Lawyers Tsunami Charity's fundraising dinner on 18 December, 6.30pm at Machan Kitchen in Farringdon. The Tsunami Charity is environmentally focused and raises money for different projects in Sri Lanka. Tickets are £50, find out more at https://slltsunamicharity.org/

FoSLA Annual Lunch 2025

Our Events Page will soon carry photos and more news from the Annual Lunch and Campaign to Buy Sri Lankan, Support Sri Lanka

Photographs from the Annual Lunch 2024

FoSLA Member and Events Secretary Chamali Fernando shares a few photographs from the Annual Lunch last year.....

Annex to Summer 2021 Newsletter

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