SwimLanka is a private initiative, but has been given support with invaluable advice and assistance by friends, members of the Sri Lankan Navy, the Marine Police and the National Life Savers Association.
Sunday 20 February
Location for pilot project identified in Tangalle.
With the kind co-operation of local friends, the local Life Savers Association and a member of the Marine Police, managed to return to Colombo that evening with 2 potential swimming instructors.
Monday 21 February
The first 2 potential swimming instructors started their course at the Rainbow Swimming Academy.
Wednesday 23 February
Back to Tangalle, had a meeting with members of the local Life Savers Association and the local Navy commander.
Start date of Pilot Project confirmed as Monday 28 February with 20 tsunami affected children, aged 6 to 12 years.
Meeting with Adopt Sri Lanka who intend to build 3 swimming pools.
Sunday 27 February
7.30 am - Julian took part in an Two Mile Exhibition Sea Swim at Ambalangoda with 350 other past and present competition swimmers to encourage people to return back to sea after the Tsunami.
4.30 pm - Arrive in Tangalle. With support of the Navy and lots of friends, we cleared the beach and set up the pool. The Navy lent us a pump which enables us to use sea water to fill the pool. By dusk all was ready for the project to start the next day,
.Monday 28 February
am - Had a number of meetings.
2 pm - Head towards the site in preparation for the arrival of the first 20 children. Julian talks to one of the parents who had 2 children participating. The father told us that he had another child, a daughter, who had not come today, and she had not been to school since the Tsunami. The school is located near the sea where she can hear the sound of the waves. The sound of the waves scared her and for that reason she had not gone to school. After a short discussion with the father, they drove off to the home in Mawella, about 6 km away, and returned with the child.
The children with their parents started to turn up. 20 children were expected but 40 turned up - news spreads fast!
After registering the children, each child was able to pick trunks/swimming costume for the afternoon’s activity. Julian addressed the parents with a brief outline of what we were trying to do with the Confidence-with-Water Course.
The class started and our SwimLanka coaches, Sarath and Shiran, were assisted by Tharanga from the Rainbow Swimming Academy who had come down from Colombo. The pictures speak for themselves. The girl from Mawella also joined the class. At first hesitant but then produced a BIG smile. Everybody was clapping and a happiness difficult to describe was felt by everyone that was there. It was a magical day.
After a number of assessment meetings, Julian and Petronella set off back to Colombo, arriving at one o’clock in the morning. Drained and exhausted it was a day they will never forget.
