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9/11
families return generosity to Lankans |
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The
families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the
twin tower in Manhattan made a donation for tsunami relief
on Wednesday, returning the generosity afforded them by a
group of Sri Lankan Buddhists living in the New York area
more than three years ago.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the Buddhist group gave US$
1,000 checks to any family that approached them at an
assistance center set up to help in the aftermath of the
2001 tragedy.
On Wednesday, the Coalition of 9/11 Families and the World
Trade Center United Family Group delivered more than
$108,000 to the American Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara in New
York's borough of Staten Island.
"So many families feel a connection to this organization for
standing with us in our darkest hour," said Anthony Gardner,
executive director of the United Family Group.
"We want to be there for them as they were for us." Gardner
presented the cheque, along with personal cards and letters
from 9/11 families, to Lal Ranasinghe, tsunami relief
coordinator at the Buddhist temple.
Ranasinghe said: "They are the victims of one thing, but
they have generosity and the good heart to help other
victims."
Gardner said the Sri Lankan Buddhists made a deep impression
with their generosity after hijacked airliners crashed into
the World Trade Center and killed nearly 2,800, including
his older brother, Harvey.
The Staten Island Buddhists are linked to many temples in
the area of Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami, so relief
money would go directly to those in need, Gardner said.
"Lal said he would like to use the funds to rebuild schools
in the region and would like to dedicate a school to victims
of Sept. 11," Gardner said.
"We would like the school to also be dedicated to victims of
the tsunami disaster. It would be a tangible linkage and
something positive to come out of these two disasters." -
Reuters |
           
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