On 19 Jan, the Hambantota office in Sri Lanka held a year-end blessing ceremony cum thanksgiving distribution in Tzu Chi National School. With empathy for the Haiti earthquake victims, many locals came forth to donate their hard-earned savings to help the Haitian people. Their capacity of great love and compassion was truly moving. Under the encouragement of Brother David Liu, the villagers came forth to donate their hard-earned savings. The long queue was emblematic of the love and compassion of the Sri Lankan people.

To align 800 chairs into straight rows, the volunteers had used a rope as a gauge, conscientiously checking that the corner of each chair is aligned.

In Tzu Chi Secondary School, villagers helped to pack 550 supplies gift bags.

It was impossible to tell that this was the villagers’ first sign language performance. Their practice had paid off and they won incessant applause from the audience.

K Damimika came with her family of four. Through watching the videos, she realized that there are much less fortunate people and she too can do her bit to help, just by saving 50 cents a day.

More than 800 people from different race and religion attended the ceremony. It was most heartwarming to witness everyone gathered in prayers.

Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, distributed the blessing envelopes to over 60 beneficiaries, 100 students and teachers from the school and nearly 700 villagers on behalf of Master Cheng Yen.

Many villagers came forth to donate their savings for Tzu Chi’s relief work in quake-stricken Haiti.

On 19 Jan at 10am, with the help of Tzu Chi Singapore, the Hambantota office held its year-end blessing ceremony in Tzu Chi National School. This is also the first major relief distribution since the post-tsunami Great Love Village was completed and handed over to the locals in 2006.

Over 60 beneficiaries, 100 students and teachers from the school and 700 villagers attended the ceremony, totaling more than 800 people from different race and religion. It was heartwarming to witness the aggregation gathered in prayers for a blessed year ahead.

Preparation underway

In order to create a more conducive environment for the guests, 40 Great Love villagers volunteered to mop the floor, decorate the place, arrange the chairs, pack the goods and even practice sign language the day before. Despite the blistering weather, the volunteers worked enthusiastically. To align 800 chairs into straight rows, they had used a rope as a gauge, conscientiously checking that the corner of each chair was aligned.

The villagers were also in charge of packing supply items. In each gift bag lies cooking oil, biscuits, noodles, and etc. Even the children came to help. The atmosphere was filled with bliss; as if they were preparing for a major celebration. Soon, 550 neatly wrapped gift bags were laid smartly on the stage.

Looking back, moving forward

The following day, even before 9am, the villagers started streaming into the Tzu Chi National School in a most orderly manner.

The ceremony began shortly after at 10.30am. The women wore their beautiful traditional costumes and performed the sign language of the Tzu Chi song “One Family”. It was impossible to tell that this was their first performance. Their dedicated practice had paid off and they won incessant applause from the audience. The students also danced a lively folk dance which left a deep impression with the audience.

Over the past five years that Tzu Chi had been in Sri Lanka, the volunteers had spread seeds of love and left footprints of compassion. Even after the tsunami, Tzu Chi continues to show its undying care for the villagers: last August, it just held a medical expedition in Ratnapura, central Sri Lanka for the sick and poor.

That day, K Damimika, 37, arrived with her family of four. Through watching the videos, the Tzu Chi care recipient realized that there are much less fortunate people and she too can do her bit to help. With a daily saving of 50 cents, she donated her entire bamboo canister which was filled to the brim. Carrying her cerebral palsy daughter and with tears in her eyes, she muttered, “I hope the Master (Master Cheng Yen) can become Buddha because she has helped so many needy people.”

Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore and Tzu Chi Malacca, who also superintends Tzu Chi’s undertaking in Hambantota, then led everyone into a pious prayer and prayed for a world without disasters. On behalf of Master Cheng Yen, he also distributed the Fu-Hui red envelopes and gave his blessings to the villagers, that may their year be peaceful and rich in harvests. He further encouraged the villagers to be part of the compassionate act and join Tzu Chi as members or volunteers.

The rich amongst the poor

Having survived the tsunami disaster, the villagers could truly empathize with the Haiti earthquake victims and understood what it felt like to lose their homes and loved ones. After the distribution, with the encouragement of Brother David Liu, the villagers came forth and queued up to present their filled bamboo canisters while those who did not bring theirs along, donated their hard-earned savings into the collection box. The long queue was emblematic of the love and compassion of the Sri Lankan people.

Sujeewa Kumari, 37, stays in Unit A37 of Great Love Village. She looked gorgeous that day in her light green traditional costume. She had just participated in the sign language performance and helped in the distributing of relief items. When asked how she felt about donating her hard-earned savings to Haiti’s relief, she said in between sobs, “The situation in Haiti now is similar to when the tsunami hit Hambantota five years ago. But we survived, thanks to aid from worldwide. I pray that aid will reach the quake victims and life will soon return to normal in Haiti.”

16-year-old Madushi, who previously had a spine problem and, under the arrangement of Tzu Chi Singapore, undergone operation in Malaysia with her equally-stricken younger sister, came to the ceremony with her family. The whole family even brought along their brim-filled bamboo canisters. Madushi’s mother said, “We love to put money in it and would like to share our happiness with others and repay what Tzu Chi has done for us.” Madushi, who has just completed his secondary school examinations, added, “I hope the Haiti quake victims can resume their lives soon.”

Tzu Chi beneficiary, Siriyawathi, 52, had been scarred with burns on her face, neck and hands since she was young. Even though she does not earn much from the small grocery store she runs near her house, the loving lady has a noble habit.

“Everyday after paying respect to the Buddha, I will make a daily contribution of one to two coins to the canister,” said the lady with the heavy bank in her arm. Hopefully, Siriyawathi’s contributions can reach out to help someone in need like her.

As they came to the end of the blessing ceremony-cum-thanksgiving distribution, everyone bid farewell in gratitude. May the power of love and compassion in Hambantota create a better tomorrow for the people!