INTERNATIONAL. As the need to assist the areas and people devastated by the 26 December Tsunami disaster mounts, drinks giant Pernod Ricard today announced that it is donating € 700,000 to assist the victims of the catastrophe.
The French drinks company will donate €200,000 to each of the following humanitarian organisations: Red Cross/Crescent, Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde) and Caritas-France (Secours Catholique).
Additionally, Pernod Ricard Asia, Pernod Ricard India and Pericyl (Pernod Ricard Sri Lanka) will donate €100,000 through local humanitarian associations to assist victims of the disaster in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the Surtani family, well-known in the fragrances and cosmetics sector, has set up a relief fund to help those affected along the country’s stricken coastal areas. The main focus is on purchasing dry rations/clothing/medicines and water for distribution, said Buggy Surtani, from Singapore-based Kay Ess Enterprises and whose brothers Hiru and Kishu of Pee Bee Fashions are based in Sri Lanka.
Laurent Fernel of Perfumers Workshop, who notified The Moodie Report of the Surtani initiative, summed up the attitude of many of his countrymen – and other international tourists – when he wrote: “All French people lucky enough to be back from Sri Lanka praise the countless help from local people who, despite having lost almost everything, still assisted them in priority. So it’s even more our duty to try to do something.”
Buggy Surtani can be contacted by e-mail on veena@kayess.com.sg
As already reported, a fund set up by Sri Lanka’s leading duty free retailer Alpha Orient Lanka and King Power Traveler and Centaur Travel Retail President Rakhita Jayawardena has climbed to around US$50,000 with donations pouring in as the industry returns to work after the holiday period. The Alpha Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief Fund is targeted specifically at one tiny, devastated sea-front village 60km from Colombo called Palliyawatta. Click here for our poignant pictorial story from Palliyawatta and to find out how to make a donation.
MORE STORIES ON THE INDIAN OCEAN DISASTER
Emirates rolls out big disaster relief operation – 04/01/05
Donations pour into Alpha Orient Lanka Tsunami fund – 04/01/05
Death toll nears 70,000 after South Asia disaster – 29/12/04
Drastic impact on tourism afterTsunami; Sri Lankan retailer set to start relief fund -28/12/04
“˜Unprecedented disaster’; 25,000 may be dead – terrible impact of South Asia disaster begins to dawn – 27/12/04Alpha Orient Lanka duty free staff missing; others lose families – a Sri Lankan tragedy – 27/12/04
Earthquake and tidal wave disaster hits south and east Asia; crippling blow for tourism – 26/12/04
