(L-R) Anusha Sanjeewani – Chief Executive Officer/Director, Foodbuzz (Pvt) Ltd., Hiroshani Fernando – Chief Executive Officer/Director, RIL Property PLC, Shayam Majeed – Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Supun Weerasinghe – Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, W.A. Kulasuriya – Additional Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Defense and R.H.S. Disanayake Divisional Secretary, Eheliyagoda.

Signing of the agreement. From left: Shayam Majeed – Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Supun Weerasinghe – Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa MP, Minister of Disaster Management, S.S. Miyanawala – Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and W.A. Kulasuriya – Additional Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Defense.

‘Seneha Siyapatha’, an initiative to provide relief for victims of natural perils by Dialog Axiata commenced the next phase of operations to build a housing project for victims of the 2017 floods and landslides in Eheliyagoda and Kotapala. 

A total of 37 houses will be constructed under Seneha Siyapatha 2017 at a cost of Rs. 57.5 million. Civil construction services will be contributed at no cost by the Ministry of Defence with participation from Tri-forces personal of Sri Lanka.

Following the floods that engulfed many parts of Sri Lanka along with landslides in May this year, Sri Lanka’s premier telecommunication service provider, Dialog Axiata, joined hands with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Disaster Management, to provide relief to those affected. 

The programme mustered Rs.16.53 million through the generosity of Dialog’s customers, whilst Dialog Axiata added Rs.33.47 million, and apparel giant RIL Property PLC, also made a kind donation amounting to Rs.7.5 million to raise the ‘Seneha Siyapatha’ fund to Rs.57.5 million. 

Under Seneha Siyapatha 2017 25 houses will be built in Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura district and 12 houses will be built in Kotapola, Matara district. The houses are constructed as per specifications given by the NBRO (National Building Research Organisation) under the aegis of the Ministry of Disaster Management and the project is managed by Dialog Axiata PLC. “We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our customers for supporting this worthy cause during the challenging time the country faced this year. This donation is yet again a true testament of the generosity of our subscribers’, and we are pleased to have partnered with the Ministry of Defence and The Ministry of Disaster Management to provide permanent homes to those affected from the disaster,” Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC said.  

The Seneha Siyapatha Fund was initiated for the first time on the 20th of May 2016, in line with the mission to serve communities who are affected by natural disasters. In Seneha Siyapatha 2016, 30 houses were constructed in the Kegalle district for victims of the Aranayake Samasara landslide. Dialog Axiata PLC, appealed to its subscribers to donate Rs.50 for relief operations via SMS (Short Message Service), Star Points and eZ Cash following the natural disasters. Dialog tripled the donation by adding Rs.100, thereby donating Rs.150 to the project fund.

The disbursement of funds and the actions of the ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ initiative are independently audited by PriceWaterHouseCoopers Sri Lanka, with the report published on sm.dialog.lk/floodrelief