Gammadda Phase II – Responding to the call of the general public

December 6 – Gammadda 100 day movement began its second phase in a bid to provide solutions to the problems and hardships faced by our fellow countrymen in rural Sri Lanka.

Phase II – Responding to the call of the general public

Today began with the launch of three projects at three separate locations.

The people’s voice

“If more institutions like this are created, the country will flourish. No one from the government pays heed to our request”.

“Never were such roads or bridges constructed, they just repaired them from the outside and no solid job was done”.

1. A bridge for Kobeigane village, Kurunegala.

Sampath Dharmapriya Dissanayake (Group Leader – Kobeigane Bridge Reconstruction) said: “Seeing the happy faces of the people when the projects are completed, provides us with the strength we need. We will take every effort to ensure that this bridge is constructed under the required standards and we will provide this village a new bridge for next year”.

MAS. Holdings joined hands with News 1st to construct the bridge – which has been in a dilapidated state for a long period of time.

Suren Fernando, Chief Executive Officer – MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd): “.. There is something special that we saw in Gammadda, that is the ability to identify the genuine problems of the people. Sirasa-News 1st has launched this initiative with the aim of providing benefits to the entire nation. So, we thought that this was the best time for MAS Holdings to join hands with News 1st and forge towards a common goal ..”

2. Electric elephant fence for Kiran – Akkuranna, Batticaloa (180 families)

The people of Kiran – Akurana have been battered by wild elephant incursions for several years. We took the initiative to put up an electric fence to ease their hardships.

Speaking at the event – the Assistant Director of the Eastern Regional Wildlife Office M.D. Weerasinghe pointed out that the human-elephant conflict and poverty, are linked. He admitted that facilities in villages need to be improved to change the situation. “That is why the Sirasa Gammadda programme has arrived here to protect your property, and develop this village…” an attempt to save the property and houses and to develop the villages”

The project is aided by the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka.

3. A maritime light tower for the fishermen in Thotamuna, Matara.

Work on the solar powered light tower which will aid around 300 fishing families began this afternoon.