Town’s Sri Lankans sending aid to disaster zone (From Croydon Guardian)

Town’s Sri Lankans sending aid to disaster zone

11:42am Wednesday 12th January 2005 in News

A concerted effort from a South Croydon-based Sri Lankan group has seen a shipment of aid dispatched to eastern Sri Lanka.

The Amparai District Vipulanda Rehabilitation Organisation, based in Broomhall Road, South Croydon, sent a shipment of 35 boxes of clothing, cookware and medical supplies to the Amparai district of Sri Lanka last Friday. It has also collected money for people in the region.

The organisation was set up by a group of Sri Lankans, originally from the Amparai district and now living in Croydon, to provide aid for the most deprived people of the region.

The first boxes of aid were loaded on to a lorry at Bestway Cash and Carry in Beddington Farm Road last Friday.

The organisation had primarily been collecting clothes and money to help people affected by the floods that hit the Amparai area prior to the tsunami.

But once news of the devastation caused by the tsunami broke, the group doubled its efforts.

A spokesman said: "Everyone has been so kind and worked very hard in helping with the fundraising. We would like to thank everyone who has helped, we really appreciate it."

A shipping company is asking people to stop donating items of clothing for it to send to Sri Lanka after being inundated with boxes.

Easy Shipping Ltd, which has a warehouse in Croydon, can no longer afford the costs of shipping the goods to the tsunami-stricken island.

The company is seeking sponsorship to enable it to pay for further aid shipments or will accept donations where people are able to pay for the shipment costs.

Call 020 8664 2626 if you can help.