Valley Tsunami Survivor

A Valley College faculty member survived the tsunami and is now rallying support and organizing relief efforts to help his native country of Sri Lanka. Last December, Al Amarawansa of Plant Facilities, was visiting friends and family on the island of Sri Lanka with his son, as they frequently do for the holidays. Normally, at that point in the trip, Amarawansa would travel the southern coast, but this time his son, 16-year-old Ravi, decided he wanted to stay in the midlands. On Dec. 26, when the wave approached the shores of the island, the father and son were safely stationed in the midland state of Kurunegala.

Amarawansa, or Al Amaray as he's known on campus, lost many friends in the disaster but believes he and his son were spared for a reason.

"There must be a natural reason we didn't go [to the coast]. We're lucky to be alive," he said. "Now, we need to do good for society."

Amarawansa began relief efforts immediately. He and his son traveled north to Anuradhapura to gather supplies and take them to Trincomalee.

"We have a moral, ethical and social responsibility to help those in need," he said. Amarawansa is also director of outreach and international co-ordination for The Dharma Vijaya Temple, a local Buddhist temple. "The day after it hit, I called the temple and we started campaigning for funds."

The temple, officially endorsed by the Sri Lankan government, has a goal of raising $2.5 million to build 1,000 homes in heavily-hit areas. So far, the temple has raised more than $150,000.

Volunteers from the temple left for Sri Lanka on Feb. 15 to survey and report back to the temple. Another group will follow with needed supplies for the restoration project.

"We plan to build about 50 houses, a community center and playground - a complete community," said Reverend Cintamani from the Temple.

Cintamani said the Temple is staying hands-on with the project because "we're not comfortable sending the money to big corporations ... we want to stay personally involved."

Most coastal cities in Sri Lanka were hit by the wave. In some areas, water washed up on land up to a mile. The tsunami reached the coasts of more than a dozen countries. Second only to Indonesia, Sri Lanka's estimated death toll is 45,000. The number is still rising.

People are still dying from the aftermath of the wave. The World Health Organization predicts more deaths from diseases such as malaria.

"It's very difficult to say how long it will take to get the country back on its feet, but now our main effort is to restore life for those in need," Amarawansa said.

Amarawansa's son, Ravi, follows in his father's footsteps. Ravi, a sophomore, is also developing a fundraiser at Venice High School.

Amarawansa says he won't forget the destruction of the wave. He recalls the widowed young brides of fishermen walking the coast with young children and infants, viewing the aftermath. "They're babies with babies and they're all alone now. It was heartbreaking."

Amarawansa urges people to donate what they can to reliable organizations.

For more information on the Dharma Vijaya Temple, or for donation information, visit www.dharmavijaya.org.