Samaritan Dagmar Wöhrl intends to increase charitable projects with a new local office

• The 20th anniversary Tsunami Commemoration is one such project which she hosts with the intention of creating awareness that Sri Lanka still has the opportunity to become a better place, as she advocates on behalf of her second home to the world

On December 26th 2024, a special commemoration ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Tsunami was conducted at the Dormero Hotel in Hikkaduwa under the patronage of Dagmar Wöhrl, a German who has a special place in her heart for the island nation.
 The event, hosted by Wöhrl, saw the attendance of Karu Jayasuriya, former Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament who had closely associated her during many successful projects, family and friends of Wöhrl, families and close relatives of tsunami victims from and around Hikkaduwa and other dignitaries, including diplomatic missions, owners and managers of hotels from the area. 
The commemoration ceremony provided a meaningful space for reflection, prayer, silent remembrance, allowing the opportunity to pay tribute to thousands of lives lost in the tragedy. 

Wöhrl recalled her experience from 20 years ago stating “I had made arrangements to fly from Germany to Sri Lanka a couple days later, but when I learned about the incident I was shocked. The number of deaths kept increasing each hour, and I became anxious and devastated. I tried calling my friends and neighbours in Hikkaduwa, but it was too difficult to get across. All flights were cancelled for over a week, and when I got the opportunity to fly a few days later, I didn’t come alone, I came with a load of medicine and medical equipment I managed to gather during that short period,” 
Dagmar Wöhrl is no stranger to Sri Lanka. Her first visit was way back in 1977 as a young student to accompany a friend, who was living in Sri Lanka for over a year studying Buddhist religion, back to Germany. Her first-hand experience as a young woman and a first-time visitor was coupled with challenges under appalling facilities Sri Lanka offered way back then. But what occurred afterwards was totally different.

“Regardless of hardships, the land did impress me right from the start, it was a piece of paradise. Not only the exotic, virgin nature, but also most importantly, the people fascinated me. Seldom did I meet such spontaneous hospitality and natural pleasantness. So, Sri Lanka naturally became my second home,” still fascinated even after 50 years by the island’s beauty and potential, she recollected.
Having an unconditional affection for Sri Lanka and its citizens, Wöhrl has  managed to assist Sri Lanka in many ways during the past five decades. Wöhrl has offered thousands of families, girls and women many with facilities and services they can only dream of. Around Hikkaduwa, she has rightfully earned the reputation of a ‘messiah’ or an ‘angel’ who has done numerous projects to make the livelihood and the lives of many Sri Lankans. 
She actively spearheaded the building of South Asia’s largest maternity hospital in Karapitiya, Galle, which includes 640 beds and six operating theatres. 
Wöhrl has actively conducted many humanitarian projects over the years, assisting young children, girls and women with a springboard to become qualified professionals later in life. The 20th anniversary Tsunami Commemoration is one such project which she hosts with the intention of creating awareness that Sri Lanka still has the opportunity to become a better place, as she advocates on behalf of her second home to the world. 
She also has plans to open a local office of Emanuel Wöhrl Foundation with the intention of raising funds and
continuing the good deeds for many years to come.