- Petronella went South with a visitor from UK, Michael. In Tangalle, they meet up with Claire, Sam and Priyantha from Rebuilding Sri Lanka. These three seemed very interested in the SwimLanka project were thinking of possibly getting involved and funding Kalutara District. More fingers to be kept crossed!
- In Tangalle Petronella also met Miranda Kennedy, South Asia correspondent from National Public Radio (NPR), USA along with her photographer Michael Rhoades. They were covering the SwimLanka project. [This meeting resulted in a 5 minute interview on NPR which can be found at this link. It was transmitted on 25 December 2005.]
- A pump was delivered to the Rekewa pool. On return to the Tangalle pool, Sarath had just cleaned the pool there with his new made (invented) vacuum cleaner.
- Heading back to Colombo, a stop was made in Galle for a meeting with the SwimLanka coaches and Mr Dharmadasa, of Friends Of The South. Mr Dharmadasa has been invaluable with his assistance in Galle.
- Petronella slipped and broke a rib. This slowed her down - almost 6 weeks to the day she was to feel significant pain.
- Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 June
- Julian, Tony and Juan Valdivieso went to Galle and Tangalle. Petronella was not feeling well enough to travel.
- A meeting was held with SunTel in Colombo, who have agreed to sponsor the start up costs and six months running costs for 2 pools.
- Nilanga, one of our Galle coaches, was married at Hikkadua. Julian was the best man.
- Tony and Petronella stopped, en route to Tangalle, at Nilanga’s ‘Homecoming’, which is an essential part of Sri Lankan wedding celebrations.
- A meeting was held with the remaining coaches in Galle.
- Another meeting, this time in Tangalle, with Alison, the new Adopt Sri Lanka on the ground co-ordinator.
- The first 270 children officially returned back into the sea and received their SwimLanka Certificates. These children came from four locations: Tangalle, Rekewa, Marwella and Kahandaramodera.
The children came with their parents/guardians and after short speeches, they went down to sea. Here the children showed their parents what they were happy to do in the sea.
Each child was given a certificate to commemorate the event
- This graduation ceremony meant that it was time for some pools to move to new locations.
Kuduwella and Unakuruwa had been selected as the new locations, so the Rekewa and Kahandaramodera pools were due to be dug out and moved to their new sites. It was hoped that these new locations would be functioning by the end of the week.
Tangalle and Marwella pools remained where they were because there were further children to attend the Confidence with Water courses.
- Three more coaches started their training at Rainbow Aquatics.
- Julian and Petronella went to Galle for the day to be present at the opening and registration ceremony of our first Galle District pool location, at Talpe, East of Galle. After many weeks of dealing with official hold ups, we very pleased that the project had finally become operational in Galle. The event was covered by an Australian television crew
- The response was overwhelming and 140 children registered for the Confidence-With-Water course.
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