SRI LANKAN LAWYERS (U.K.) TSUNAMI CHARITY
(Charity no.1108341)
It is an extraordinary project in progress, transformed and
changed on an odyssey that began on 26th December 2004.
On 26 th December 2004, unimaginable horror occurred. 40,000 lives were needlessly lost and countless lives were devastated due to an avoidable environmental catastrophe. in Sri Lanka alone. Defenceless people and communities were destroyed on a massive scale.
The Tsunami was a humanitarian and environmental calamity, the worst in living memory in Sri Lanka. It opened our eyes, ears and hearts.
In the scale of that catastrophe, although we were very small and our efforts miniscule, we had a duty to fight for those who had no voice and to help the children, the poor and the destitute, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences, in their hour of need. Our cause was just, not to waste your money and with your help we were determined that we would not fail.
Our mission ever since has been to support social justice and environmental justice projects in Sri Lanka.
Tsunami Charity is unique and ‘Tsunami’ has been associated with it since inception on 31st January 2005.
It is a triumph of faith, hope and action, over mistrust, indifference and inaction. It encapsulates and is a focus for not one issue but all the issues that concern us.
A remarkable thing about the Tsunami Charity, is that it is run entirely by volunteers and supporters who burn the midnight oil. They organize the annual Tsunami Memorial Reception. They generously assist, support, work, donate, give their time and their art to provide a forum, to campaign, to publicise issues and support a wide range of incredible social justice and environmental projects in Sri Lanka.
We aim to build partnerships with organisations like the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and to support committed lawyers in Sri Lanka who are engaged in protecting poor communities.
Positive actions past and present are informed by integrity, the need to confront racism and sexism, a commitment to social justice and the necessity to advance environmental protection. There is no sense of self-interest. It only assists and empowers on trust.
These actions demonstrate how Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers, irrespective of race, language or creed can work in unity for Peace, Reconciliation, Social Justice and Environmental Justice.
Bur perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the Tsunami is the impact on so many people, who were galvanised to support the wide variety of amazing causes, both in the immediate aftermath and ever since.
Assisting the rehabilitation of tsunami-affected children, included:
Other Tsunami connected projects, included:
Subsequent projects included:
Such was the profound impact of the Tsunami that in 2006 Sri Lankan Lawyers called for a Ceasefire, Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Discussions
- Kirti de Kauwe’s brilliant series of paintings donated for auction from 2009 – 2019.
- Mandhira de Saram’s dazzling solo violin recital at 2008 – 4th Tsunami
Memorial Reception.
- Child’s painting of the Tsunami was auctioned at 2008 – 4th Tsunami
Memorial Reception.
- Emalka Hapuarachchi donating the painting ‘Arcasia’ for the 2016 – 12th Tsunami Memorial Reception.
- Aruna Shantha and Lakeesha Lakmini’s Sri Lankan traditional dancing and drumming at 2017 – 13th Tsunami Memorial Reception.
- Bernard Kalubowila’s 50 year old oil painting donated by Azize Chelliah
at 2017 – 13 th Tsunami Memorial Reception.
- J.M. Seelan’s works of art donated by Selvanayagam Sathananthan at
2017 – 13 th Tsunami Memorial Reception.
- Sir Garfield Sobers signed photograph donated by Selvanayagam
Sathananthan at 2023 – 18 th Tsunami Memorial Reception.
Law Medical Cricket Matches between Sri Lankan Lawyers and Doctors at Harrow School Grounds and other venues.
Raised funds for the ‘Tsunami Child’.
Acknowledgements
We thank most of all, family, friends and many ordinary people, too many to name, who
volunteered to work so tirelessly behind the scenes over these years to produce faultless
events and, who stood with us, and helped, and supported us generously over the years.
Unforgettable members and supporters:
Paul Rajanayagam, Terence Costa, Tanoo Mylvaganam, Ed Ross, George Farkas, Sumal Fernando, Ian Macdonald QC and Dr Tony
Xavier who gave years of unconditional support from the inception of the Tsunami Charity.
May they RIP.
Tsunami Committee past and present. Fritz Kodagoda, Upali Jayatilaka, Ajantha Tennakoon, Abul Hassan, Wasantha Tennakoon,Kumudu Amaradasa, Duminda Warnapala, Suranganie Peramunagama, Gayani Jayatilaka, Sam Methuan, Shanthi Senadheera, Harsha Rupasinghe, Rohan de Alwis, Renuka Sriharan, Ariya Sriharan, Manoj Rupasinghe, Prasad Palihawadana, Sudesh Bopitiya, Selvanayagam Sathananthan, Manoj Warnapala, Aziz Chelliah, Sisira Polpitiya, Daminda Goonetillake, Shehan Pinidiya, Irene Sriharan, Puvi Masilamany, Shaun Neville, Frank Chellian, Surya Samaraweera, Ganan Sivayoganathan, Senthuran Maheshvanayagam, Indika Kommalage, James York, Saman Waidyaratne, Janaka Siriwardene, Lalith Sudusinghe, Dinali Nanayakkara, Chrishanthi Vincent, Kalavani Gopalaratnam and others who helped.
Supporters: Harendra de Silva KC, Bali Gill, Imran Khan, Ahmet Ratip, Suresh Grover, Kirti de Kauwe, Thomas Varughese, Michael Hall, Alex Taylor-Kamara, Saleh Ahmed, Rajiv Menon KC, Aswini Weereratne KC, Hemantha Warnapala, Lesley Ratnasekere, Sarath Wijesinghe PC, Ruwan Warnapala, Sampath Warnapala, Pam Rose, Dushy Mylvaganam, Katie de Kauwe, Sue Wilman, Dr Kamal Gammampila, Dr Christopher de Kauwe, Amal Abeyawardene, Mala Karunaratne, Dr Ranjith Dissanayake, IKP Solicitors, Lloyds PR Solicitors and Garden Court Chambers for their constant assistance and encouragement.
And to the Spirit that has guided