'Seneha Siyapatha 2017' Commences Construction at Kotapola, Matara

The foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed ‘Seneha Siyapatha Gammanaya’ at Kotapola, Matara District, initiated by Sri Lanka’s premier telecommunication services provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, was held under the auspices of Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe MP, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Hon. Sagala Ratnayaka MP, Minister of Law and Order & Southern Development, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC, W.A. Kulasuriya – Additional Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Defence, Kavan Ratnayaka, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Champika Wijesuriya, Media Secretary Ministry of Disaster Management Ministry, G. Amarasinghe – Divisional Secretary, Kotapola and Brigadier A M S D Atapattu, Commanding Officer, 58th Division, Sri Laka Army also graced the foundation stone laying ceremony as special invitees.

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. The programme mustered Rs.16.53 million through the generosity of Dialog’s customers, whilst Dialog Axiata added Rs.33.47 million and 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 a further 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 by the disaster,” Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC said.

The agreement for ‘Seneha Siyapatha 2017’ was signed between the stakeholders, Ministry of Defence, Dialog Axiata PLC and The Ministry of Disaster Management at a media conference held on 16th August, 2017, under the guidance of Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa MP, Minister of Disaster Management.

The Seneha Siyapatha Fund was initiated by Dialog Axiata 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