Helping out locally

Life is very tough for Sri Lankans right now (September 2022). The economy is in freefall with rampant inflation and shortages of essential foods, medicines, petrol, diesel and cooking gas – although there have been some small improvements recently. A month ago one of our former guests, Wendy Hogg, contacted us having heard on the news about the situation in Sri Lanka and offered a generous donation to help. This inspired us to see what more we could do to build on Wendy’s example, which provided essential foods for more than a week for five needy local households – three pensioners living alone and two families.

Two things, then. First we ran an appeal which has already raised almost £1,000 (about Rs420,000/-) to provide many more food boxes. The appeal was to our overseas contacts, friends and family as we are well aware that our Sri Lankan and expat friends are already doing their utmost to help people. Second, we have committed to spending 10% of all our guest income from now on to providing for local people in dire need, so by booking a stay at Jungle Tide you are directly helping local people. Our staff – Martin, Rani and Noni – are well placed to identify needy people in the three villages close to Jungle Tide and arrange for the food boxes to be delivered or collected. And where possible we are buying the goods from smaller shops and locally-run wholesale businesses rather than the supermarkets, so we are helping them to keep going.

The need will be ongoing for quite some time yet so if anyone reading this feels like making a contribution, however small, contact us via email [email protected] or WhatsApp +94 779 810 631.