We are a group of Sri Lankans living in the Bay Area in Northern California. In the wake of the recent tsunami, we are particularly concerned with sustaining funding support over the long term for numerous small Sri Lankan NGO’s in affected areas. Some groups have been completely shut down while others are struggling to maintain their services. It is important to help them financially so that they can cope with the enormity of the challenges ahead.
While international relief organizations are doing good work in dealing with some of the immediate needs of the affected population, the enormous task of rebuilding cannot be successful without the support of on-the-ground organizations who can monitor needs and progress on an ongoing basis. Given the scarcity of funding for smaller groups, many Sri Lankan non-profits may be unable to perform their tasks adequately without outside help. This group’s vision is to reinforce the work that is underway and pledge support to making efforts sustainable in the years to come. The donation page has a list of organizations we recommend that provide direct relief and at the same time promote human rights and democracy in the reconstruction process.