Trade pledges further support as Travel Retail Village opens

Gavin Lipsith

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The rebuilt village of Palliyawatte was officially opened on March 16 with several travel-retail guests on hand, including DFNI Asia

The travel-retail industry has vowed to continue its support for the tsunami-stricken villagers of Palliyawatte after building 20 homes at a new settlement 10km inland from the original site. Supporters attending the March 16 official opening of the new village, at which DFNI represented the trade media, made generous pledges offering further assistance to improve the quality of life of the 100 villagers who were rendered homeless by the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

Rakhita Jayawardena and Paul Topping celebrate the opening of the Travel Retail Village in Palliyawatte

The houses, named after the cause's most generous supporters - including retailers, suppliers, trade associations, trade press, individuals and anonymous donors - were constructed with funds raised by an enormous industry effort over the past year. Each 1,100sq ft (sq m) house will accomodate one of the 20 families relocated from Palliyawatte and comprises three bedrooms, dining room, living room, bathroom and kitchen.

Dubai Duty Free was among the supporters to be honoured with a house in its name, and the emotion of the moment prompted deputy managing director George Horan to offer a further $25,000 to continue the work. Other companies have also told project coordinators Alpha Asia managing director Paul Topping and King Power Traveller managing director Rakhita Jayawardena that they are willing to continue their support. More work remains to be done, including the construction of a large community centre that will include a library for the children of the village.

In an emotional address, community leader Chrisantha Rathnasekera thanked the global travel-retail industry for its generosity. "I remember standing on the beach with Rakhita just after the tsunami and looking at the lost homes, and Rakhita promising that he would help us rebuild our lives. Today that pledge has been fulfilled and I cannot express how grateful we are to everyone who has supported us. On behalf of my community, thank you all."

Jayawardena added his thanks to the trade, as well as to the architects and planners who had made the achievement possible. "In 240 days we have built 20 houses. That is 12 days to build one house. It is a miracle."

The support will continue, said Topping, who told the villagers and guests that the industry will remain involved with the community. "We are going to stay with them and offer our help in whatever way we can in the future. The whole spirit of the industry has been galvanised by this effort. People will continue to come to Sri Lanka, and we want to be able to take them here and show them what we have achieved."