Sri Lanka CUs Devastated ByTsunami

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (01/04/05) -- As many as 100 community creditunions and at least one district credit union have been destroyedin this tiny island country by the massive tsunami that struck itlast week, according to the World Council of CUs. WOCCU, which isworking with the Sri Lanka CU Federation to assess the damage tocredit unions and their members, reported that credit union staffare among those killed by the waves that swept coastal regions ofthe country. WOCCU has dispatched Normunds Mizis, who was WOCCU'sproject director in Sri Lanka from 1998-2002, to the country tofurther identify damage and provide assistance. WOCCU also said itis working with the Indonesia CU Federation to assess damagesthere, where thousands have perished and billions of dollars inproperty damage were caused by the mammoth tidal waves. In SriLanka, the credit union foundation is working to distribute food,blankets and clothing. To help victims, WOCCU has established adisaster relief fund. Contributions can be sent to WorldwideFoundation for Credit Unions, Inc., 5710 Mineral Point Road, P.O.Box 2982, Madison, WI 53701-2982.