This fundraiser is now considered 100% complete. A new bridge has been constructed and is in use!
Sri Lanka has been hit with one of the worst floods ever in the history. Severe flooding brought on by monsoon rains across southwestern portions of Sri Lanka has resulted in the deaths of at least 200 people, according to the country’s Ministry of Disaster Management. As many as 112 people are still missing, and the death toll is expected to rise, as authorities battle to rescue those still stranded and warn of the possibility of crocodile attacks.
Several hundreds of thousands are displaced. Waterborne deceases usually follow. We cannot be bystanders and must do something.
Below are some pictures sent directly by the Navy Relief & Rescue Team at the field level. We personally know the crew and can vouch for the authenticity of the pictures. These images are from Ratnapura that is mostly devastated by the floods. Supply of the food, water, medicine is fairly under control. What we must concentrate is long term assistance when the water level recedes and the relief teams leave the areas.
We hope to fund the construction of a foot bridge (shown in the images) in Ratnapura that is the only means to connect with a rural village that has now been isolated.
The Navy Hull Engineering Team inspected the badly damaged bridge and estimated the repair cost to be around Rs. 6.0 million. Our contribution of $4000 (Rs. 600,000.00) or more, which is only 10% of the total cost, will be sent to the Navy NSR fund.
The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne, a distinguished Royalist, a President’s Scout, and a Troop Leader of the Royal College Scout Troop has agreed to provide the remaining 90% of the funding and free labor from the Sri Lanka Navy!
Bridge details:
Village: Athapaththugama, Ayagama, Ratnapura
Bridge Span: 100 meters
Bridge Width: 6 feet
Structure: Steel
Families benefited: 150+
As RCOBEC Foundation is a public non-profit 501(c)3 foundation, your donations are 100% tax deductible.
Check if you employer has a matching gift program. If so, you could double your donation!
RCOBECA will post updates on this page as your donations are put to use.
Thank you!
Read more about the devastation on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/29/asia/sri-lanka-floods/
Providing help to the village isolated by the bridge collapse
Bridge damage and assessment
Update: June 14th 2017
The repair of the bridge in Ratnapura has begun.
RCOBECA is mentioned in the below news clip in Sinhalese.
Targeted amount to be raised by RCOBECA and Friends: $4000
Actual amount raised by RCOBECA and Friends: $7454
Total amount sent to the SL Navy: $7454 (in two installments)
Total repair cost: Rs. 7 million
RCOBECA contribution: Rs. 1.1 million
Update: August 1st 2017
The repair of the bridge in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka has been completed. The bridge was officially opened by the Sri Lanka Navy. See images below from the opening ceremony.
