DEDICATION DAY!

After three grueling years of construction and overcoming obstacles posed by weather, finances, politics and contractors, our 48 new houses and new Community Center were formally dedicated July 12, 2008. Over three hundred invited guests were in attendance.

The afternoon's ceremonies began with graceful dancers led by Dulanjalee ushering in EACT Founder Dr. Pramilla Senanayake, US Ambassador Robert Blake, UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne, and trustees of EACT including John Johns,S.K. Wickremasinghe, Jayantha Dhanapala, Priyanthi Fernando, Priyan Senanayake and other dignitaries.

It was a day to spotlight the talents of the children for whom Dr. Senanayake had devoted much of her energies the past 24 years. Some danced and others sang. A few youngsters who had been shepherded through school and onto university recounted their initial struggle and the subsequent support that EACT had given them.

When Dr Senanayake addressed the guests, her theme was that of dreams coming true: for herself, for the families who were overwhelmed by their losses in the tsunami, for the children who looked forward to a bountiful future and, not least, for the donors. "I hope today your faith in us is reassured," she said.

Two champions of EACT, Ms Helen Davis and Ms Penny Wells, who had come from the UK, were enthusiastic in their endorsement of the work done by EACT.

Mr. John Johns, a board member and donor who had travelled from the US with his wife and son for the occasion, also spoke to the assemblage. He represented a group of U.S. supporters who had contributed substantial sums toward building and equipping the Community Center, and he pledged his group's continued support to sustaining the Center and its ongoing classes in English and computer skills for the children.

Another staunch EACT supporter, US Ambassador Blake, noted that it was the first time he was speaking at an occasion where the US government did not have any involvement! "The private efforts of donors and trusts are sometimes more important in building relationships between countries than governments," he said.

Our Project Coordinator, Mr. Nandasiri, introduced some of EACT's special beneficiaries, children with disadvantages who are being looked after in many other ways, besides having their educational needs met. "The children who have been seen through their schooling over the years are too many to enumerate," he said.

To add a final celebratory touch, small groups of invitees were hosted at each of the 48 houses and regaled with a traditional festive spread of bananas, kiribath and sweetmeats. The guests left Dediyawela that evening with homemade jasmine garlands, knowing that they had witnessed hope restored.

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