‘Senehe Siyapatha’ to provide relief for flood and landslide victims in Eheliyagoda and Kotapola

From left: Dialog Axiata Group Chief Corporate Officer Shayam Majeed, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa MP, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management S.S. Miyanawala and Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary (Administration) W.A. Kulasuriya

‘Seneha Siyapatha’, an initiative to provide relief for victims of natural perils by Dialog Axiata commenced the next phase of operations to build a housing project for victims of the 2017 floods and landslides in Eheliyagoda and Kotapala. 

A total of 37 houses will be constructed under Seneha Siyapatha 2017 at a cost of Rs. 57.5 million. Civil construction services will be contributed at no cost by the Ministry of Defence with participation from Tri-forces personal of Sri Lanka.

Following the floods that engulfed many parts of Sri Lanka along with landslides in May this year, Sri Lanka’s premier telecommunication service provider, Dialog Axiata, joined hands with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Disaster Management, to provide relief to those affected. The program mustered Rs. 16.53 million through the generosity of Dialog’s customers, whilst Dialog Axiata added Rs. 33.47 million, and apparel giant RIL Property PLC, also made a kind donation amounting to Rs. 7.5 million to raise the ‘Seneha Siyapatha’ fund to Rs. 57.5 million. 

Under Seneha Siyapatha 2017 25 houses will be built in Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura District and 12 houses will be built in Kotapola, Matara District. The houses are constructed as per specifications given by the NBRO (National Building Research Organisation) under the aegis of the Ministry of Disaster Management and the project is managed by Dialog Axiata PLC.

From left: Foodbuzz Chief Executive Officer/Director Anusha Sanjeewani, RIL Property Chief Executive Officer/Director Hiroshani Fernando, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Corporate Officer Shayam Majeed, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa MP, Ministry of Disaster Management Secretary S.S. Miyanawala, Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary (Administration) W.A. Kulasuriya and Divisional Secretary, Eheliyagoda R.H.S. Disanayake

“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our customers for supporting this worthy cause during the challenging time the country faced this year. This donation is yet again a true testament of the generosity of our subscribers’, and we are pleased to have partnered with the Ministry of Defence and The Ministry of Disaster Management to provide permanent homes to those affected from the disaster,” Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe said.  

The Seneha Siyapatha Fund was initiated for the first time on 20 May 2016, in line with the mission to serve communities who are affected by natural disasters. In Seneha Siyapatha 2016, 30 houses were constructed in the Kegalle district for victims of the Aranayake Samasara landslide. Dialog Axiata PLC, appealed to its subscribers to donate Rs. 50 for relief operations via SMS (Short Message Service), Star Points and eZ Cash following the natural disasters. Dialog tripled the donation by adding Rs. 100, thereby donating Rs. 150 to the project fund.

The disbursement of funds and the actions of the ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ initiative are independently audited by PriceWaterHouseCoopers Sri Lanka, with the report published on sm.dialog.lk/floodrelief.