We welcome you to the new Sudana Rodrigo Sahana Foundation.
Sahana is the Sinhala word for "compassionate help." With the
support and encouragement of friends of Barberyn, we have established
a foundation to continue the community development work that
evolved as a response to the Tsunami that touched the lives of
countless people in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka on 26 December
2004.
Barberyn has been involved in community development for over
three decades since the building of our original resort Barberyn
Reef in Beruwala, in 1968. Barberyn
Reef pioneered the development of tourism in the southern
coast in Sri Lanka. With the opening of our new resort Barberyn
Beach in Weligama in 2003, we looked forward to expanding
and establishing sustainable links between the resort and the
community. The Sahana Foundation is thus dedicated to the memory
of Sudana and Chitra Rodrigo, the Founders of Barberyn, for their
pioneering spirit, for their philosophy of giving, and their commitment
to the welfare of the staff and the people in the community.
The Tsunami expedited our involvement with the villages in Weligama
in a dramatic way. From the peaceful oasis of Barberyn Beach,
which was unharmed by the Tsunami, all of us including our resident
guests dealt with the logistics of providing immediate relief
to the thousand or so homeless people who had gathered at the
village temple by evening on the day of the Tsunami. The generosity
and kindness of the resident guests and the dedication of the
Barberyn staff were truly remarkable and we are grateful for your
support.
When the need for immediate relief receded, we could see beyond
the Tsunami - to the poverty in the lives of the villagers and
ways in which we could help to reduce the poverty. With the support
of Friends of Barberyn, we have been able to make rapid progress
in several key areas in Weligama. The results are already visible,
and there is hope in the surrounding villages.
The villagers are encouraged to take ownership and contribute
their skills in implementing the projects. The Barberyn staff
supervises the projects and we personally ensure that the projects
are implemented in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
Funds received and spent are carefully recorded and monitored.
Site inspections are carried out several times a week on each
project. At the core of every project lies the goal of sustainability
and self-reliance. We would like to help the villagers to help
them selves.
The Sahana Foundation is as much yours as it is ours. We would
like you to browse through the pages - see the stories unfold,
and be a part of this development. We would like your comments
and observations to improve the projects and the web site.
Together we can make a difference.
The Rodrigo Family
Home |
Tsunami & aftermath |
Village rehabilitation |
Bodhi school programme |
Reviving livelihoods |
Empowering women |
Children in need |
Contact us |
Sitemap
