Audio Jan. 28: Organizer Evan Balasuriya discusses the trip Feb. 2: Volunteer Lavina Pattee describes the group's visit to a damaged area Feb. 9: Lavina Pattee describes a day's work Feb. 25: Lavina Pattee describes their farewell celebration Photos Damaged house Volunteers Evan Balasuriya View full slideshow (15 images) More from MPR "Forensic" computers depart Twin Cities for tsunami-ravaged countries (01/05/2005) Minnesotans hope tsunami survivors include friends, relatives (12/28/2004) Marshall native recounts harrowing survival (12/28/2004) How you can help the tsunami relief effort (12/30/2004) Resources HelpSriLanka.us Tools E-mail this page Print this page Sponsor

Minnesotans hope to continue Sri Lankan rebuilding
by Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public Radio
March 13, 2005

Tsunami damage in Sri Lanka. (Photo courtesy of www.helpsrilanka.us)

St. Paul, Minn. — A third group of Minnesota volunteers is being formed to go to Sri Lanka, to help rebuild tsunami-ravaged areas of the tiny country. Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean nations were devastated by the Dec. 2004 tsunami. Tens of thousands of people died, and millions were displaced from their homes.

The Minnesota effort is being organized by a local Sri Lankan businessman, Evan Balasuriya, who hopes to send new volunteers every six weeks for the rest of the year.

The first volunteers spent the month of February in Sri Lanka, and recently returned home. In Sri Lanka, they focused their efforts on a village called Moratuwa, just south of Columbo. A second group left for Sri Lanka in early March.

MPR's Morning Edition has been checking in with the group over the past several weeks. Here's a short timeline of their activities.

JAN. 29, 2005
About 30 Minnesotans in the first group left for Sri Lanka to help tsunami victims. They are teachers, builders, and nurses. All donated their time and paid their own way.

Evan Balasuriya is a Sri Lankan businessman and former restaurant owner who's been living and working in Minneapolis for more than 30 years. On Jan. 28, he talked with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer about his project. (Listen)

FEB. 2-3, 2005
The volunteers arrived in Sri Lanka, and worked out of a Catholic mission school and farm.

One of the volunteers, Lavina Pattee, is a retired school teacher who lives in Big Lake, Minnesota. She brought along a tape recorder to document what she is experiencing. The first report she sent back describes the group's initial trip to one of the heavily affected areas. (Listen)

FEB. 9, 2005
The volunteers spent much of their time in Moratuwa, just south of Columbo. There, they provided medical care, rebuilt homes, and helped in classrooms.

Lavina Pattee recorded an excerpt after a day in which the volunteers prepared to rebuild a community center, and got some help from local residents. (Listen)

FEB. 25, 2005
The first group of volunteers prepared to leave the village of Moratuwa. Lavina Pattee describes a village gathering held just before the group left, to celebrate their accomplishments. (Listen)

LATE FEB. 2005
Volunteers in the first group begin returning to Minnesota.


MARCH 8, 2005
A second group of volunteers leaves for Sri Lanka.