Sri Sugatha Orphanage

Sri Sugatha Orphanage in Balipitiya has been our main project in Sri Lanka. We were introduced to Dr Nadaratana the monk in charge and the children on our 4^th visit, at that time there were only nine children living there. All nine of them slept in one room on nothing more than mats on the floor,water was leaking through every wall and a play area was non-existant. After being introduced to this Orphanage and doing a lot of research we decided this was the perfect project to spend the donations that were so generously given by the people in Guernsey.

The plans were drawn up the price agreed and we were fortunate enough to be able to find a very reputable construction team who began work within a month of A.R.C agreeing to finance the building. After a month a team from A.R.C travelled to Sri Lanka to see how the Orphanage was progressing. We were really pleased when we got there to see that the second and third floor had already been put in place. We couldn’t believe how fast these people work once their given the go ahead. A.R.C did have volunteer’s, mainly locals, in Sri Lanka keeping an eye on the development.

Work wasn’t long started when the monsoon rains began this delayed work for a couple of weeks, but no sooner had the rains cleared up when the workers were back and seemed to work harder than ever. Another month passed and the roof was ready to go on. The scaffolding was placed around the new building and the painting began it was looking really good. Just the tiling and the safety railings to be put in place and it would all be finished it was so exciting for the children. They couldn’t wait to get into their new home.

A.R.C returned on 3^rd June for the official opening ceremony and a number of dignitaries were there from all over Sri Lanka. The prime minister was due to open the Orphanage but due to security reasons had to cancel at the last minute so the commissioner of the Southern Province was there to do the honours. The Guernsey flag was flying and right at that very moment I really wanted everyone from back home to be there with me, quite an emotional moment. 

The speeches went on for six hours, perhaps that’s why the children fell asleep but once the ceremony was over the children were running around singing and playing, they were so happy and  were looking forward to sleeping in their new beds and having their own rooms. The next day Dr Nandaratana  invited us all for a meal which also included a boat trip down the river which runs along the banks of the Orphanage.  The boys were also invited and were really excited as they jumped into the boat with us. It was a lovely evening and everyone was so happy. The next day it was time for our goodbyes there was some tears but we knew we would be returning in a few months to see how things were going.

We were right this really was the perfect choice to spend the huge donations from Guernsey.

 We at A.R.C would like to express our deepest gratitude to the people of Guernsey for without their generous donations this project would not have been possible.