An exhibition of art work at the Tramway last month was yet another example of the invaluable practical help Scotland is giving to Sri Lankan survivors of the Tsunami.

Opened formally by Patricia Ferguson, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport it enabled Venerable Rewatha, Head of Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara (temple) to give a public report on Scottish Executive funded projects. These include schemes assisting widows and another for orphans. A Psychosocial Health Centre has been opened and counselling and scholarship programmes are in operation thanks to funding from Scotland.

In addition, funds raised through the efforts of the Buddhist community in Scotland – and contributed to by people of all denominations and none – are being used to buy medicine for very sick children and to give them continued care.

Some of the paintings in the exhibition had been done by children traumatised by the tidal wave which struck two years ago and killed thousands of people and destroyed communities throughout a vast part of south east Asia.

The majority had been painted by Nelum Arachchige a Sri Lankan born artist living in Glasgow. The funds raised by the sale of the paintings went to the sick children’s medication project.