tsunami 26.12.2004
The facilities of the one world foundation in Wathuregama were badly hit by the tsunami on 26 December 2004. The school buildings in the school grounds in Wathuregama were almost completely destroyed and the main building of the owf, Bogenvillya, where the offices are also located was seriously damaged. However, in view of the unimaginable extent of the catastrophe, we should also point out the lucky circumstance that 26 December was a Sunday and also full moon ("Poya-Day", a holiday in Sri Lanka) and there were therefore no children in the school when calamity struck. Also, as if by a miracle there were no fatalities among the one world foundation's staff and guests. However, material damage to the owf educational facilities that had been built up over many years was enormous. The school site in Wathuregama could no longer be used for schooling because following the tsunami a new law stipulates that schools may no longer be located close to the sea.
The main tasks immediately after the tsunami were the rapid rebuilding of the basic owf infrastructure of the main building, Bogenvillya, safeguarding the maintenance of schooling in Galwehera and Katuwila (Preschool Units, Women's Cooperation), establishing temporary school facilities with the capacity that Wathuregama had in 2004 as a stop-gap until reconstruction, quickly looking for a new school site further inland where a new owf school campus could be established and parallel to all this beginning conceptual and architectonic plans for reconstruction.
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