After the Tsunami: Industry United and Focused on Rapid Recovery > Latest on Impact and Recovery Efforts > Sri Lanka Hotelier Survivor Story A Hotelier's Story of Survial in Sri Lanka - Hotel Key to Rescue Efforts Here is an eye-witness account and survivor tale from a hotelier in Sri Lanka. Olivia Richli, Manager, Amangalla Hotel not only survied, but turned her hotel into a rescue center, proof positive of our industry helping at the grass roots level. Olivia tells her harrowing experience and provides details on how you can help make a difference. This eye-witness account is provided by: OLIVIA RICHLI - Manager A m a n g a l l a 10, Church Street, Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka Office: +94 91 2233388 Fax: +94 91 2233355 email: orichli@amanresorts.com It is so shocking to see what has happened to this beautiful coastline. The Fort saved us, and both the hotel and my home are untouched by the damage, though they are only meters from the sea. The surrounding town is utter devastation. The place where I bought my fruit and vegetables is gone. So is the fish market, the tailors, the shoe mender. Our favourite beach bar gone, friend’s houses just crumbling walls. We were able to help a huge number of people through the hotel- - as a refugee camp for over 500 people from the local community for the first 2 days - as an evacuation point for injured foreign nationals - with our vehicles transporting the injured and young families from Unawatuna to helicopters in Kogalla- fleets of black ambassadors snaking through the back roads filled with bleeding tourists, a strange sight - as the headquarters for the British High Commission – they were incredible. - as accommodation and a feeding point for relief agencies- USaid, Austrian Samaritans and the British High Commission. - and of course accommodation for journalists. The foreigners who remain are now mobilized to distribute aid within this community, under the umbrella title PROJECT GALLE 2005. We are all residents in Sri Lanka, and have businesses and homes here. Many have been here for years, and have great local knowledge, and language. We all support many local families with jobs, and have many Singhala friends. We have established an office in a house in Galle Fort, and appropriated 2 adjoining houses for our warehousing. We have computers and are compiling a database of the areas most in need. We are working alongside the Government Agent- the local authority figure who is co-coordinating the official aid distribution. We have vehicles and drivers, office staff, translators, cooks and labourers. None of the above incurs any cost. All is voluntary work from people who know and love this area. We are still using diesel provided by the British High Commission. Once this has run out we will have to buy fuel. We are already being sent aid from many different agencies, and have started distributing medical supplies, water and food to mosques and temples that have become the refugee centres- some housing 1000’s. We are using The Friends of the South charity bank account for donations to help. This is a charity here in Galle, made up of a board of local and foreign residents- including myself. We carry out humanitarian work in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. The funds raised with this appeal will go towards immediate humanitarian assistance as well as for longer-term projects to help communities get life get back to normal. If you can please send funds to: Bank: HSBC, Colombo Account name: Friends of the South Account number: 003-096609-001 Swift (for TT’s): HSBCLKLX Note: Please specify that funds are for Sri Lanka disaster relief appeal and transfer charges will be waved. Pass this on to others who want to help. Please get in touch for further information, or if you are able to offer other assistance. To contact Friends of the South email on: friendsofthesouth@yahoo.co.uk. IH&RA thanks Olivia for this first hand account and commends her for her incredible efforts. OLIVIA RICHLI Manager A m a n g a l l a 10, Church Street, Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka Office: +94 91 2233388 Fax: +94 91 2233355 Mobile: +94 777 281946 email: orichli@amanresorts.com. Copyright 2003 International Hotel & Restaurant Association. All rights reserved. International Hotel & Restaurant Association 51 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 75001 Paris France Tel: 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 20 Fax: 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 30 www.ih-ra.com