BBC Cambridgeshire presenter Christopher South took the money to Tangalla, a small town in Sri Lanka, where over 3,000 people were lost in the tsunami that hit the coast on 26th December last year. His mission? To purchase a motorised rickshaw - known as a tuk-tuk - which would be used to provide an income for two of the town's young men.
 | | Santha shows off his wrecked tuk-tuk |
Speaking directly from Tangalla, Chris told us: “Operation tuk-tuk is a big success. We’ve achieved everything we set out to do and we’ve managed to stretch the money pretty well – it was tight, but we managed it. I have two very happy young men with me who are now the proud owners of two three-wheel rickshaws." One of these, 24-year-old Wasantha, lost his original rickshaw when the tsunami hit. It disappeared into the sea, and ever since he’s been eking out a living renting other people’s rickshaws, managing only a very small profit margin. But now he’s got a new tuk-tuk, Wasantha will be able to start working for himself straight away. He was keen for Chris to explain how happy he was with his new tuk-tuk and to pass on his thanks to all of BBC Cambridgeshire's listeners who raised the money to help him.
 | | Wasantha and Santha with their tuk-tuks |
The other tuk-tuk recipient is 21-year-old Santha. His rickshaw was battered to bits in the storm. It was just about repairable, and Christopher seriously considered using the money raised by Radio Cambridgeshire to have it repaired, but as he explained by phone: “I can see it sitting here and it looks an absolute wreck. It would take at least a month to repair it – and that means yet another month off the road, which we don't think would be a good idea, so we have bought him a new second-hand tuk-tuk – both of the vehicles we bought are second-hand. Santha also wanted to thank the people of Cambridgeshire who have helped him. Chris explained to us how the tuk-tuks would be used. “There are two types of trade for these chaps – for which they charge peanuts. There’s very little private car ownership in what is a very poor country; there are perhaps 20 cars in the whole town of Tangalla. Most people get around on foot, by bus or by using these very cheap little rickshaws. "Tourists will pay a little more, and quite willingly, I should add! So there is definitely enough trade for both Wasantha and Santha. In fact, one of them was late to a meeting with me because he had already been taking fares in his new tuk-tuk. So these vehicles are earning money for the men immediately and are putting their families back on their feet."
 | | Wasantha, Chris South and Santha |
Chris also met a friend of Wasantha and Santha from a village further along the coast. His home was completely wiped out, and he was left with virtually nothing at all. Although Chris was aware that he could not help everyone he met in the same way as he had done for Wasantha and Santha, he was pleased to have enough money left over to buy the man a few shirts and some trousers, so that he would at least have a change of clothes. As Chris would say on his return to Radio Cambridgeshire, although the major disaster appeals have closed and the international aid is very much in evidence in Sri Lanka, the hardship can be seen everywhere, and the need for assistance will continue for a very long time to come. Read more about Chris's visit to Sri Lanka's tsunami-hit coast by using the link at the top right of this page. | 
