Cold Weather Relief Work in Sri Lanka

By Sri Lanka News Group (Originally in Sinhalese)

Winter 2012-2013

With deep concern and love for individuals in need and those vulnerable to cold weather conditions, Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed US$1,520 to the Colombo Center of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in Sri Lanka. Master lovingly instructed our Association members to purchase warm clothes for the homeless and vegan food for monks in need. The total contribution could purchase approximately US$13,056 in material aid if bought in the United States, based on the cost of living in Sri Lanka. Although the projected cost of the effort was US$1,000, Supreme Master Ching Hai caringly sent an additional US$520 to buy more food supplies for the monks.

A team of our Association members then delivered winter jerseys and warm caps to the homeless in Nuwara Eliya, a cold, mountainous region in central Sri Lanka. The merchant from whom the members bought the items was so impressed with our group’s humanitarian work that he gave the team a considerable discount. He also contributed five each of his own jerseys and caps. The items were then distributed to the homeless living on the streets. The relief team next traveled to the North Central and Western provinces where, although it was not as cold, street dwellers gratefully accepted the bed sheets and dry-ration parcels offered by the team.

The relief team also went to Thanthirimale, a remote village in Anuradhapura District known for its Buddhist temple. There we presented dry-ration parcels containing rice, sugar, cereal, dhal, tea leaves, soya “meat,” toothbrushes, toothpaste, mosquito-repelling incense coils, biscuits, wheat flour, and packets of local herbal medicines to monks in need. In that village ration parcels were also distributed to several families who had been affected by recent flooding and were staying in camps.

Expressions of joy could be seen on the faces of all the recipients. Our Association members wish that kindness and warmth will continue to bring comfort and elevation to gentle hearts around the world.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association for Cold-Weather Relief Work in Sri Lanka