One night in January 2005, Ven. Walpola Piyananda whom I have known since my college days in Los Angeles during the 1980s phoned me and asked whether I would like to be the representative in Sri Lanka for a tsunami housing project. Without hesitation I accepted his request to build houses for the victims of the great tsunami of 2004. He said Americans in all walks of life gathered to help in every way possible for survivors to get back on their feet.

Funds were collected in Los Angeles with Bhante Piyannanda as the Chairperson Frequently communicating with me and the contractor Mangala Jayasinghe, led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Urban Development in March 2005. A land called "Galagodawatte", in Hikkaduwa of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka with an extent of 200 acres was allocated to donors from all over the globe to build 512 houses in total. The project funded by the Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara / Hollywood Artists Alliance was given 36 land plots to build 36 housing units. Plans were approved by the Urban Development Authority.

In November of 2005, nine completed houses were handed to selected victims of the tsunami. The project was completed in February and all units would be handed over to the respective beneficiaries on 26th February 2006. A single house was constructed for a victim outside the allocated land as she had a plot of land in Baddegama and requested us to construct the house on this land. In total, the project was completed with 37 housing units.

It wouldn't have been possible if not for the tireless efforts of Bhante Piyananda and the committee in Los Angeles. Donors in the United States of America, the Hollywood Artists Alliance, The World Trust Organisation and the Airline Ambassadors are also remembered and appreciated at this moment for their continuous guidance, assistance and generousity.