‘Lahiru’ accommodation centre reopens for FoG
visitors
Visitors to the Foundation
of Goodness can now stay in the peaceful and comfortable
‘Lahiru’ villa, a newly opened accommodation centre
built on tsunami devastated ruins in the small village
of Seenigama.
By enjoying a stay at the
Lahiru villa, guests will not only experience the
fantastic hospitality of the Seenigama people, they will
also be contributing to the upkeep of the MCC Centre of
Excellence and the accommodation centre itself.
Volunteers in particular will
benefit from staying on site in Seenigama close
to projects such as the Rainbow Clinic, which is
often visited by doctors from both Sri Lanka and
overseas who dedicate their time to working with
local staff.
The Foundation of Goodness receives many
enquiries from visiting volunteers and
specialists who wonder where they can stay, and
would prefer to be immersed in village life
rather than a tourist hotel. Now they can enjoy
the smoke and alcohol free atmosphere of the
villa and be right in the heart of Seenigama.
The ‘Lahiru’ villa is an
ancestral property inherited by Foundation of
Goodness (FoG) Trustee Kushil Gunasekera. Prior
to the tsunami this villa served both as holiday
getaway and a place to be inspired to help the
disadvantaged villagers of Seenigama.
For many years, associates, friends and family
took
advantage of the stunning villa, complete with
swimming pool and tennis court, while taking the
time to see how FoG was assisting the
village and perhaps offer some support
themselves.
Then on 24th December
2004, everything was changed in one horrifying day as
the tsunami struck the Sri Lankan coast line, taking
lives, homes and livelihoods from thousands of people.
The villa was almost completely ruined, with only some
water-marked walls and crockery surviving in-tact.
This shell was quickly
cleared up and turned into the relief secretariat for
FoG’s tsunami relief operations, and Kushil donated the
property to the Foundation so that the work could be
continued.
Thanks to the generosity of donors from across the
globe, the property has now been rebuilt and expanded
into a higher learning institute dubbed the ‘MCC Centre
of Excellence’ for the village children and youth.
The villa rests in the middle of this hub, and is
restored to its previous immaculate standards as an
accommodation centre where donors, trainers and
volunteers can stay and contribute to FoG with their
valuable expertise.
The accommodation centre has five ensuite rooms with A/C
and features a private pool and communal eating area
which is catered by some of the finest cooks in the
area. Guests can stay for just $USD 25 for double bed
and breakfast and $USD18 for single bed and breakfast
per night.
Proceeds contribute to the maintenance of the centre so
it can be improved to accommodate more local and
international guests who wish to dedicate their time to
supporting FoG in their quest to empower disadvantaged
rural communities.
For enquiries or to make a booking, please contact
Dilhani on fogucc1@sltnet.lk.
