As a result
of the large number of orphans from our school projects,
AED found it necessary to construct a residential facility
for these children. Completed in 2002, “Samudra
Sri” which means “the beautiful place by the
sea” in Sinhalese, is located on two and one half
acres adjacent to the Indian Ocean, approximately 20 kilometers
north of the capital city, Colombo. Today, the home operates
both as a residential living facility as well as a school,
with the capacity of 200 orphaned children. The home is
considered by many aid organizations, including US AID,
as one of the nicest orphanages in all of Asia.
Many
of the children at “Samudra Sri” suffer from
various emotional issues including Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and are provided counseling and art therapy
as well as a safe and loving environment. “Samudra
Sri” takes applications for volunteers from the
US, Europe and Australia for educators, medical personnel,
and counselors, who are willing to come and give of their
time by spending from one to three months in Sri Lanka
working with these children.
