India, Amritanandamayi to build 300 houses for Lanka's tsunami survivors.

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), who was in Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Hindu Affairs Minister K.N. Douglas Devavanda is seen at the Press Conference with the Minister, at the Hindu Cultural Ministry on the 17th of February 2005.

[India News]: Colombo: Indian Spiritual leader, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), who is in Colombo on a three-day visit to console thousands of tsunami victims, has pledged to build 300 houses for the tsunami survivors.

Amma, well-known for showering divine love on everyone equally through her embrace, yesterday arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of the government and would be visiting the worst tsunami-hit areas of Amparai in the Eastern province and Matara in the Southern province to meet tsunami survivors in relief camps.

Addressing a press conference upon her arrival at the Ministry of Hindu Affairs, the spiritual leader said that she was tremendously sad to see the present situation in Sri Lanka and has initially pledged (Sri Lanka) Rs 65 million to build those 300 houses for the affected people of all ethnic divides.

Hindu Affairs Minister K N Douglas Devananda was also present at the press conference. ''If the circumstances permit I will contribute more money for the affected people in Sri Lanka.

These houses would be built in areas recommended by the government of Sri Lanka,'' Amma said. Amma is scheduled to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse before leaving Sri Lanka on Saturday morning.

Asked whether she could predict when Sri Lanka could enjoy peace in full spirit, she said,''we can awaken a person who is sleeping, but cannot awaken a person who is pretending to be sleeping. ''We should keep trying for peace.

Just by feeling sympathy it will not help towards heeling it. We should work hard for it,'' she said, adding that peace was possible only when spirituality was practiced. Following the natural disaster, Amma's Ashram has been dedicating 100 per cent of its physical and financial resources for the victims. The Ashram has already dedicated 100 crore Indian rupees as post-tsunami relief for the people in India.

The Ashram continues to provide 81,000 meals a day throughout South India. Amma is also due to open an orphanage for 350 tsunami-hit children in Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.

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