Galway County Councillors help Sri Lankans

Galway City Mayor, Willie Burke put forward a motion at the last County Council meetings that all councillors should donate €1,000 from the money they are allocated annually for conference purposes to the victims of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot Connolly seconded the motion.

The County Council approved this unique proposal, with nearly all councillors donating and a total of €27,000 raised to date. The Council hopes to build a long-lasting relationship with the people of Sri Lanka. It is hoped that one day Galway will twin with one of Sri Lanka's counties.

It costs €1,000 to build a house in Sri Lanka so, in conjunction with Concern, Galway County Council hopes to house many of the homeless and disadvantaged in Sri Lanka. Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot Connolly said it "draws attention to the plight of Sri Lanka and in particular to areas of Sri Lanka suffering deprivation which are not covered by the government and are being neglected and not receiving as much aid as other parts of the country".

The proposals have been forwarded to the LAMA Conference; the national body for councillors, and a motion has been tabled to all county councils to follow the same initiative.