Meeting with Caroline Gammell, reporter from The Press Association, UK and Ajali Kwatra from Christian Aid UK
Thursday 8 December
Visit of Steven Fricaud from Sport Sans Frontières (SSF) with whom we will work in Pottuvil, Ampara District
Wednesday 14 December
Meeting with Adopt Sri Lanka about the Trincomalee 25 metre pool
Thursday 15 December
Petronella to Ampara District – Pottuvil
We were planning to start the project in Ampara District in Pottuvil with 2 Suntel Sponsored pools on 17 December, but due to rough sea (North-East monsoon) are not able to start till the following week.
Two of our Trincomalee SwimLanka coaches are kick starting the project in Ampara while 2 new Ampara coaches undergo training at the Rainbow Swimming Academy in Colombo.
SSF are working Pottuvil and have set up a youth club where SwimLanka will be conducting classes for the benefit of the children in the Pottuvil area
Sunday 18 December
Petronella returns with 2 new Ampara coaches for training
Wednesday 21 December
Back to Trincomalee and it looked as though we might have a foundation stone ceremonially laid on 31 December . . . wait and see
Thursday 22 December
Trip to Northern Trincomalee to find a new pool location – Kalarawa and Kumpurupitty, about 50 km North of Trincomalee town and is a badly affected village inhabited by migrating fishermen from Negombo on the West Coast, North of Colombo
Friday 23 December
Attended psycho-social meeting in Trincomalee
Returned to Colombo the next day, Christmas Eve.
Meanwhile Julian and Ravin went down South to Haburaduwa graduation and Goviya Pahana certificate ceremony
Wednesday 28 December
Back to Trincomalee to prepare for the laying of the Foundation Stone Ceremony on 31 December. One of the aims of having a 25 Metre Pool Foundation Stone laid before the end of 2005 looked as though it might become a reality.
The ceremony would coincide with a festival of flags painted by all parts of the community. An initiative from the Swiss Rainbow Project and run and co-ordinated in Trincomalee by Dr Gadambanathan
Friday 30 December
Final meeting with Urban Council
Saturday 31 December
SUCCESS - The ceremony of laying the Foundation Stone for the 25 metre eight lane swimming pool took place at 3.30 pm in Trincomalee. It was attended by all relevant local authorities, local clergy and heads of schools in Trincomalee. Julian’s mother, Tara, who has been instrumental furthering the cause of swimming in Sri Lanka was also present.
There was a demonstration in the Dutch Bay 5 metre pool which was just over the road from the big pool site.
Petronella returned back to Colombo immediately after the event, trying to be back home to see the New year in. Unfortunately the traffic was especially bad in the last 50 km to Colombo but she made it back by 12.30, to be met by a well deserved bottle of champagne!
