29/12/2005

By Sarah Bishton

A PRE-SCHOOL in Sri Lanka has been rebuilt a year after it was destroyed in the tsunami thanks to kind-hearted Wokingham residents, writes Sarah Bishton.

Just days before the first anniversary of the Boxing Day disaster pupils and teachers in the town of Beruwela celebrated the opening of the Viduni pre-school after more than £20,000 was raised. Winnersh chef Cholomondeley Wetthamuni’s sister works at the Sri Lankan pre-school and rallied support through The Times last January to raise money to help them rebuild the much-needed facility. Thanks to fundraising events throughout the year and thousands of pounds given by residents, readers and businesses, the new pre-school complete with classrooms, toilets and other facilities has been built.

Mr Wetthamuni told The Times he was thrilled to bits and all the children in the Sri Lankan town were overjoyed. He said: “It is fantastic and a real success story that a year on the children have been able to get their pre-school back.

“Since their old pre-school was destroyed they have had to use a temporary building which was far from ideal.

“A pre-school for the children in this town is vital and this new concrete building which people in Wokingham helped build through their donations will really brighten up their lives.

“My sister has sent me photographs of what the pre-school looks like now and all the children have smiling faces as this really means a lot to them.

“Life has been really difficult for thousands of people in Sri Lanka since the tsunami and they are still trying to rebuild their lives.

“Some families are still living in camps and the children want to sleep in the pre-school because they love it so much.

“I am so pleased and delighted that so many people have given their support.”

Winnersh Rangers Football Club, staff and customers at The Pheasant Inn in Reading Road and pupils and teachers at The Hawthorns Primary School in Woosehill were among those who supported the appeal. The family of Amar Phull, a former pupil at Hawthorns Primary tragically killed after a truck ploughed into a coach load of British tourists in Greece last August, contacted Mr Wetthamuni after hearing what he was trying to do.

Amar’s father Paul and grandfather Singh Phull gave £7,000 so the finishing touches could be added to the school building. Singh Phull went to Beruwela to see how the building was coming along and gave teachers a photograph of Amar and a few words about him which is now pinned on the wall of the school. Paul Phull said he was delighted to have been able to help the cause and it would have meant a lot to Amar.

Mr Phull said: “We wanted to do something in Amar’s name and when we heard about what Mr Wetthamuni was trying to do it seemed ideal and something Amar would have really been behind.

“The pre-school is such an important part of the community and we are really pleased we have been able to help in such a big way and donate this money.”