On 1 December, High Commissioner Robyn Mudie hosted an event to mark the tenth anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami which struck the coastal areas of eleven countries around the Indian Ocean rim, including Sri Lanka and Maldives on 26 December 2004. The event coincided with the visit to Sri Lanka by the Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Australia, the Reverend Tim Costello. Representatives of World Vision were joined by other partner agencies and organisations who took part in the emergency response effort a decade ago. Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Mudie said “In Sri Lanka more than 35 000 people were killed and approximately 418 000 were displaced. The Tsunami had a devastating impact on the lives of millions, including many Sri Lankans from the south coast to the northern tip of the island. The Australian government provided over AU $ 20 million in humanitarian assistance in partnership with a range of trusted donor organisations including World Vision. When the tsunami struck, World Vision launched an extensive emergency response in 11 districts across Sri Lanka, providing food, clothes, shelter, medical supplies and safe spaces for children. Reverend Costello flew into the country the following day, visiting many of the communities struck by the tsunami. In addition to the AU$ 2 million it delivered on behalf of the Australian Government, World Vision contributed over $100 million to the relief effort in Sri Lanka, including funds raised through the generosity of the Australian community and the proceeds from a special cricket match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in January 2005. “It is exciting for me to be returning a decade later to see first-hand how communities are faring and to witness the extraordinary endurance of the human spirit embodied in the tsunami survivors of Sri Lanka,” Mr Costello said. Paying tribute to the many communities affected by the tsunami ten years ago, High Commissioner Mudie said there were countless stories of courage, resilience and determination as people struggled to rebuild their lives. The event at the official Australian residence was an opportunity to honour the memory of the over 35 000 lives lost in Sri Lanka on 26 December 2004 and to pay tribute to the courage and determination of the families they left behind. Australia continues to work with tsunami-affected communities, as well as vulnerable groups across Sri Lanka, having provided nearly AU$400 million in development assistance since 2004 in areas such as education, health and economic development.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:26:14 +0000