Financial Times

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), in association with Reconstruction And Development Agency (RADA), recently recognised and honoured 30 volunteers and four other most outstanding volunteers from the Southern Province and Kalutara District.

They were honoured for their invaluable contribution towards rebuilding the regional economy from the recovery stage of the tsunami to the current stage of the Back to Business Project.

The function was held recently at the Light House Hotel with Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights as the Chief Guest and Jan Huesken, First Secretary Embassy of Netherlands as the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, Samarasinghe commended the efforts of the back to business project and said that the work carried out by FCCISL is a shining example for others to follow.

Placing his gratitude to FCCISL and RADA for organising an event to recognise volunteers, the minister said that their commitment to such a voluntary effort in an unknown disaster is truly commendable and should be recognised at the highest possible level.

He added that “government must recognise such volunteers and I am pleased to announce that my ministry will issue a certificate to all those volunteers who were recognised today”.

Jan Huesken said the government of the Netherlands is very pleased about the outcome of the back to business project and that he was personally involved in the project from its inception.

He added that he had first hand experience of the disaster as he, being the officer in charge of the Embassy during the time of disaster, managed to visit many affected areas and recognising those volunteers who helped in the recovery process is commendable.

FCCISL President Nawaz Rajabdeen explained to the gathering as to how the FCCISL Back to Business Project evolved and FCCISL and RADA teamed-up to recognise volunteers from each Chamber district who were committed to the task of helping people.

Sam Stembo, Project Director of the Back to Business Project briefing on the performance of the project said that 7,415 has been brought back to business as against 10,000. This he added was a 74% achievement with a time lapse of 40%.

The Most Outstanding Volunteers (Punarodaye Niyamuwo) who lead from the front and honoured at the function were U K Sampath Lasantha Ranasinghe (Galle District), Mohamed Azmi Thassim (Hambantota District), Y. D. Pramuk Sanjeeva Peiris (Kalutara District) and Raja Hewabowala ( Matara District )

Key Volunteers (Punarodaye Niyamuwo) recognized were Galle District - Sarath Godakandaarachchi, Hewage Jayarathana Malwenna, Galla Palliya Guruge Randika Thushara, Mohamed Thowfeek Mohamed Ajmal, Muthappan Murugappan, Bataduwa Arachchi Dhammika Prabajith Mahendre, Mohamed Subair Mohamed, Abdul Gaffar Nazar Hussain, Kulatunga Rajapaksha

Hambantota District - Saleek Usuph, Jayapremalal Kumarasena, N. S. M. Hanees, K. Liyanaarachchi, Ranjith Muthumala, Tuwan Kamil Juveer Samsudeen,Tilar Nadugala, Keerthi Munasingha, Sumanthra Jainudeen

Kalutara District – Ganga Hansakumari Naotunna, Lalith Ashoka Jayaweera, S. Grace Wijesinghe, Matara District – G. G. A. Gunasena, Mohamed Ashhar Hameem, K. A. Cyril Wijesiri, Chandrasiri Ediriweera, R. K. Janananda, M. Vidanagamachchi, T. M. Manjula De Silva, R. S. K. Uyanahewa, P. Suraweera.