Sirio, a leading export-oriented apparel company in Badalgama, is currently engaged in a programme aimed at offering financial assistance to restore 65 houses to people who suffered losses due to the recent gale that hit the area.
The event to provide financial assistance to such residents, which took place at the company premises, was presided over by Sirio CEO and Omega Line Group Director Felix A. Fernando, Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary H. M. L. S. Herath, Katukenda Grama Niladhari J. P. I. L. Jayakody, and Badalgama Police Kolitha Ranatunga.
Representatives of Sirio Ltd. spoke to residents affected by the disaster, including Sirio employees, to estimate the cost required to repair the damaged houses.
Providing financial assistance was done in three categories. In the first category, finances were provided to fully restore houses of 26 workers of Sirio Ltd. who live in Katukenda, Menikwatte, Diklanda, Heeralugedera, Agalegedera, and Pethigoda. The second category saw financial assistance being provided to people of 15 houses in the vicinity. In the third category, Sirio Ltd. provided financial assistance to renovate houses of 23 families in the Katukenda Grama Niladhari Division (where Sirio is located), who are currently taking refuge in temporary shelter tents provided by the government.
In addition to this, on a request made by Divulapitiya Divisional Secretary H. M. L. S. Herath, Sirio Ltd. offered Rs. 100,000 to an underprivileged mother with a disabled son who also lost their house recently to the inclement weather.
Further, Sirio provided meals for ten days to around 250 families who suffered from the disaster that happened on January 12. The company spent Rs. 1.2 million for this purpose.
Felix Fernando, speaking on this activity, said, “The unfortunate incident that took place on January 12 caused damages to houses and also to our company. We realized in the midst of this disaster, how much the youth in the vicinity love our company. Power failure and road blockages due to trees falling on electricity wires caused us losses. Many workers of ours got stranded in the company premises, unable to return to their homes. The youth in the vicinity took swift action to clear the roads and provide us relief.”
“Because of this mutual relationship between Sirio and the people of Badalgama, we always come forward as a company to help these people when they have difficulties. That is the reason we took immediate steps to restore houses in the vicinity, without sticking to restoring our company premises which too, was affected by the disaster. I must also pay my respect to Chairman Vincenzo Joppolo and Calzedonia Italy Company Chairman Dr. SandroVeronesi for their prompt intervention for this just cause.
Many members of our company too, worked to bring relief to their neighbors, and I pay my respect to them,” he added.
The Sirio Company is affiliated to the Calzedonia Group, Calzedonia S. p. A. in Verona City, Italy.