Financial Times

Swedish business magnate keeps his promise
Hans Wallenstams, director of Wallenstams Bygnads, one of Sweden's biggest companies, was moved by haunting television images of the tsunami in Sri Lanka and wanted to help.

He immediately telephoned Arne Johansson, director of "Barn I nod" (Swedish International Help for Children) which has been working on children's projects in Sri Lanka, offered his help, following up with a circular to his 80-strong staff with a one line message - "donate what you can and I will match it 10 times over."

The staff donated a total of 220,000 Kroners (1 Kroner = Rs 13) and the boss of the company kept his promise -- making it a total 2.5 million Kroners (Rs 35 million) for Sri Lanka projects.

"It was unbelievable the way this businessman went about mobilising funds. It's a good example for Sri Lankan companies to follow to help their own fellow beings," said Johansson, now visiting Sri Lanka with Desmond Fernando, a Sri Lankan domiciled in Sweden, and looking at suitable tsunami-related projects.

Wallenstams' generosity was among many by Swedes. Fishermen in the commune where Johansson and Fernando live chipped in with a giant contribution according to their standards. "The fishermen were moved by the tragedy and understanding how it feels to lose one's boat, they got a collection going and gave us money to buy two boats for Sri Lankan fishermen," said Fernando, who frequently travels to Sri Lanka on community development work.

The two boats have been purchased here and would be presented to two affected fishermen shortly. Johansson's organisation has been working in Sri Lanka for some 35 years helping a children's home in Nuwara Eliya. Wallenstams Bygnads, one of the country's biggest real estate and property development firms, is the Swedish organisation's biggest donors.

With these monies, Swedish International Help for Children hopes to work with local authorities to rebuild houses and help fisher-families with water, sanitation and uplift their livelihoods. The organisation is looking at projects in affected areas across the island.

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