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January was a turbulent month. Although SwimLanka had succeeded in laying the Foundation Stone for the Trincomalee 25 metre Swimming Pool on the last day of 2005, the political situation in the North East of the island became very tense, slowing day to day life down to a virtual standstill. The laying of the Foundation Stone in Trincomalee did not mean that all was ready for the actual building to commence. Still much ground work to cover to ensure that all parties concerned were happy.
On the South coast though, life carried on as normal and “Confidence With Water“ classes continued.
- Overkanda and Pitiwella graduations were attended by Julian Bolling.
- Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 January
- A First Aid & CPR course was held in Galle for the coaches of the South and West.
- Sunday 19 to Tuesday 21 February
- Opening of the Mullativu pool in Mullaitivu District.
- Petronella made an exploratory visit to the North - to the LTTE controlled area of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi
- She then went on to Trincomalee for 25 metre pool matters.
- Wednesday 1 to Friday 3 March
- Petronella went off to Trincomalee again
- To deal with more 25 metre pool detail
- To find more 5 metre pool locations North of Trincomalee
- To meet the new governor of North East Province, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema,
- Meeting with Michael Bedford, Regional Manager of Right To Play
- Meeting with Henny Bouman of SOS Velsen
- Petronella made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Colombo North.
- Graduation at Habaraduwa attended by Ravin
- Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 March
- Petronella went North, this time with Tony:
- To help with the movement of 3 x 5 metre pools into the LTTE controlled part of the island. These pools were bound for the Jafna North East coast where there was much tsunami devastation still evident.
- To liaise with NGOs in Kilinochchi.
- Youth Action Organisation
- GAA
- To confirm the progress of the 2 Mullaitivu District pools:
- One at Mullaitivu town
- The other at Alambil
- To confirm the locations for the Jafna pools on the North coast
- Talayadi
- Aleyavali
- Marathankerny North
- Petronella and Tony met up with Julian and Ravi on the South coast for the graduation at Polhena in Marata District
- Meeting with Marja van Leeuwen who founded the Weeshuis Sri Lanka, the Somawathi orphanage set up post tsunami to accommodate 150 children. Located near Habaraduwa.
www.weeshuissrilanka.nl
- Meeting in Galle between SOS Velsen, Adopt Sri Lanka and SwimLanka regarding the building of a 25 metre swimming pool in Galle town.
- Robert Drummond, chairman of the Friends of the South, who are the Galle District sponsors, visited the office.
- There were numerous meetings during the two months, at some of which photographs were taken.
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