As well as the loss of their loved ones and the loss of their homes, many Sri Lankan families lost their livelihoods when
their fishing boats were destroyed. From the outset, the Fund has made every effort to provide as many one-day fishing
boats to the fishermen of Sri Lanka to enable them to start rebuilding their lives and provide for their families.
The Buy A Boat project was the brainchild of Amanda Monerawela Hughes. She was interviewed on UTV radio and RTE radio
and appealed to all the schools in Ireland to raise funds to buy a boat. Each boat would have the sponsors name
printed on it. After hearing the interviews, schools, sports clubs & associations, individuals, businesses and
organisations contact the office to find out how they could contribute to this appeal. Over 4.5 thousand families
have benefited from this project.
Thanks to the huge generosity of the people of Ireland 1011 one-day fishing boats complete with engines and nets have
been sponsored. On the 28th May, 2006 the distribution of these boats was completed.
The Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund used 3 of the top boat yards in Sri Lanka
to build the one-day boats. These boats and engines are all under warranty.
Using the links below, you can view a small sample of the boats built.
Click here to view sample boats
built by Blue Star Boats
Click here to view sample boats built
by Dhanusha Boats
Click here to view sample boats built
by Neil Marine Boats
There has been issues raised concerning the standard of some fishing boats
supplied by other boat donors. The following link is to a letter received by
the Trust Fund on the 3rd May outlining problems experienced by the National
Development Bank during their own boat building project. In the letter, they
compliment the Trust Fund on the success of the Fund's own boat building
project in terms of the quality of boat and equipment provided as well as
the fairness of the distribution.
National Development Bank Letter
The following letters indicate the number of boats provided by Blue Star Marine and Dhanusha Marine on behalf of the Fund.
Blue Star Marine Letter
Dhanusha Marine Letter
Also in Sri Lanka some fishermen fish from boats call orus. These boats do not have engines and they fish very close
to the beach. The Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund provided 50 of these boats.
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