Seva Vanitha launches SOS Appeal in the United Kingdom

The Seva Vanitha Unit, the welfare organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an appeal to collect funds towards the children's village in Komari in the wake of the tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka.

The appeal was launched by Ameena Musthapha, President, Seva Vanitha UK branch based at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London. Mrs Ameena Musthapha is the wife of the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Court of St. James.

The Seva Vanitha branch has appealed to the vast Sri Lankan community in the United Kingdom, to support the children's village through raising much needed funds for SOS the reputed organisation.

Mrs. Ameena Musthapha wrote: 'As you are aware, consequent to the tsunami disaster, there has been wide scale death, injuries, devastation and homelessness caused in Sri Lanka. Children are amongst those who are worst affected.'

The Seva Vanitha Unit, the welfare organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an appeal to collect funds towards the children's village in Komari on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.

This children's village will be managed by SOS, a highly reputable international organisation, devoted to uplift the welfare of needy children.

Sri Lankans wishing to contribute to the Seva Vanitha Appeal have been asked to contact the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on Tel: 0207 262 1841 Fax: 0207 262 7970. The High Commission is situated at 13 Hyde Park Gardens, London W2 with Lancaster Gate as the nearest London Underground station.

A Letter from the Seva Vanitha Unit of Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailing exactly what SOS plan for the Children's Village in Komari was also released in the United Kingdom:

SOS villages are set up to care for orphaned children, while providing them with a normal family atmosphere. The SOS village in Komari, in the Eastern province, for tsunami affected children will include children from all ethnic communities.

The SOS village in Komari will have approximately 10 houses. Each house will accommodate 10 children under the care of a 'mother' who would be in charge of them.

The estimated cost of a house in the SOS village in Komari will be approximately Rs. 3 million; i.e. the cost of building, supply of water, electricity, furniture etc. The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Foreign Ministry envisages to contribute towards the building of houses in the Komari village for children.

The estimated cost to establish the SOS village in Komari is Rs. 150 million.

Meanwhile a large scale tsunami relief concert takes place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday January 23. The special fund-raising event, which will feature many of the UK's best known and loved bands, is aimed at raising Sterling Pounds 1m for stricken families in south-east Asia.

There will be space for up to 60,000 fans to join the party in the Welsh capital and they will be able to enjoy more than six hours of top flight entertainment and join the rest of the world in raising money for those left with so little after the tsunami disaster on Boxing Day.

Every Sterling Pounds 100 raised, will buy a tent in which a displaced family can live or pays for emergency food parcels to feed 60 families for one month; Sterling Pounds 30 will buy enough water purification tablets to give 320 children a litre each; Sterling Pounds 25 will buy plastic shelter and food parcels for two families for two weeks; Sterling Pounds 15 will buy a hot meal for 125 people in emergency feeding centres.

The tsunami left almost 150,000 dead, more than one third of which were children, and at least five million people without food and water. It is estimated that around three million are homeless. Profits from the concert will go to the DEC's Tsunami Appeal Fund.

It was not known whether any Sri Lankan musicians were to participate in this major event to help the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and other nations in the region - there was a call for the Tsunami Song released by Sri Lanka's outstanding singer/songwriter Nimal Mendis to be played at the Tsunami Relief Concert in Cardiff. His composition has provoked huge interest in the United Kingdom and around the world.