JAFFNA DIOCESE OF THE CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA

AMERICAN CEYLON MISSION

Rt. Revd Dr S. Jebanesan                                        
17, Frances Road
Bishop in Jaffna                                                        

Dear Dr James Vijayakumar,

I wish to thank you most sincerely for your concern and sympathy for us during this time of dire calamity.

The tsunami came and attacked us when were in the thick of Christmas and New Year celebrations. The tragedy occurred during the Sunday morning service on the 26th December.

According to the official statistics more than 25,000 people have died in the entire Island. In the Northeast province of Sri Lanka, where the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India has the most number of Churches and Institutions, havoc caused is heart rending. I give below the particulars about the deaths and displacements in the Northeast province:

District        Dead                injured        missing        displaced families
Jaffna
Point Pedro        1,171       688           59                           4,859

Mullaitivu           983         1,386           2,750                       5,051

Trincomalee       844         not known    3,782                      18,910

Batticaloa        1,504       not known     612                     11,306

Ampara         5,350        not known    6,350                   not known
Contd.,

Tsunami has come and gone taking its toll. But the people who survived are undergoing much hardship. Epidemic and food shortage are now imminent.

As Jaffna Diocese of the CSI we are doing our best to relieve the pain of the injured and bury the dead. We are also distributing medicine, clothing and utensils. Medicines are needed most. Because of the fear of epidemic doctors are advising us to buy everything new—clothes, bed sheets and utensils.

If money is sent to us it will be used for buying medicines and linen and utensils. If we have more money to spare we will use them to buy roofing material for the displaced persons.

I am sure there will be members of the churches, the Board of Trustees of Jaffna College and other individuals who will be willing to help us in this time of anxiety and disaster. They may be even interested in a particular area. You can channel the money through the Diocese and we can send the contributions to their areas of preference if notified. It is good to have a centralized system of operation for the effectiveness of this important ministry.

There is an urgent need for medicines. If you can send the boxes of medicines to Rt. Revd Dr S. Jebanesan, 17 Frances Road, Colombo 6, Sri Lanka, we will be able to send them to the most affected areas. It is unfortunate that some of the worst affected areas are not highlighted by the electronic and print media. Since we are living in the Northeast province we come into contact with the affected people. Our ministry is to go and distribute them to the persons concerned. It will reach them quietly without the hazards of red tape. We will be in touch regarding the rehabilitation steps as they progress

Hoping to hear from you soon.

With best wishes for a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Yours in Christ's Ministry


Rt. Revd Dr S. Jebanesan
Bishop.