Sri Lankan are now facing huge decline in their earnings and at the same time the cost of living is escalating day by day. Thalagala Sri Siddhartha Foundation, led by Ven. Thalagala Sumanarathana Thera launched food relief programa islandwide from donations received from the Singapore charitable foundation - Tan Ngak Buay and Kee Meng Lang Foundation Limited, and other Singaporean and Thai donors.
The total amount raised was Rs. 63.75 million and the initial target of Rs. 52.5 million has been exceeded. The number of beneficiaries has also increased from 35,000 to 42,500. Under the first phase of the program, food relief being provided to about 21,500 families covering 11 districts - Kalutara, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara, Moneragala, Badulla and Hambantota. Under the second phase, arrangements have been made to provide this similar relief to another 21,000 families living in the remaining 14 districts.