www.kitesurfingsrilanka.com
Dilsiri Welikala blogged -
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sad Day for Sri Lanka Surfing
For the first time in the history of Surfing in our country, a huge donation of surfboards was made to us by a number of organization in UK. When doing the documentation there was an error. We mentioned the Name of the Surf Club as the receiver thinking that this was the most legitimate thing instead of a individual name. We weren’t VAT registered or had a TIN number and the problems started with us being required to register the club for VAT and obtain a TIN number.
Most if not all the club members were from the other side of the island and some who lived in Colombo volunteered to assist to get the documentation. We soon realized that this process would take at least a week which means the consignment would be charged for demurrage. With this in mind we decided to explain our situation to a number of persons in the relevant authorities to no avail. They said we had to stick to the process and get the club registered for VAT etc.
We were not trying to elude paying the relevant taxes but sought a way rectify the error made above. If we can just transfer the receiver to an individual as against to a club then we can get the consignment sooner.
In utter desperation we went to the office of the highest authorities to see if his office can intervene to assist in our cause. All we need a note/ directive stating that this is genuine cause which were highlighted as follows;
1. The surfboards would be handed over free of charge to the surf clubs on the east, south and west coast clubs. We would teach the beneficiaries how to conduct surf instructing and earn a living out of the sport. Perhaps get them out of the bad influences and help them make something concrete from their lives and talents.
2. The surfboards will be used to encourage the sport in the island amongst male and females. Many of them are from the poorer families. Like other sports like Cricket, surfing offers a very promising option as a professional sport. We have the most critical resource – Waves! We just need the boards and some professional guidance.
3. This initiative would give impetus to create surfing revolution to raise the standard of surfing in the island and helping us draw closer to our dream of seeing our countrymen compete at the international surfing circuit.
The repercussions of us not being able to get the surfboards out on time would lead to;
1. The club members unable to bear the demurrage cost
2. The boards thus being ‘stuck’ and eventually ‘lost’ at the port
3. The surfers not getting their surfboards – no practice, no additional source of income perhaps a new livelihood
4. The donors being disappointed and not assisting Sri Lanka due to ‘strict rules’ and ‘short term focus’
5. The locals surfers not being able to pursue a dream of competing internationally and bringing fame to our country
Having shared this viewpoint and after much pleading one would expect at least a glimmer of hope but the words were, ‘This is out of our focus, you need to go through the process’. Having pleaded again and mentioning that Sri Lanka would lose out on the opportunity to position itself as a surfing destination and be a competitive force in the surfing world the answer was ‘there’s nothing I can do’.
This was certainly the most saddest day of my life. To see a dream being shattered. Rules are rules I am sure. But true leadership is to look beyond the rules and understand the motive and genuine intention of a plea and make things happen. We are not robots to have to stick to a specific routine or code, we are humans. We were not asking for a duty free car or a land or anything like that. In fact we were are willing to pay the taxes applicable. We just asked for them to give a directive about our intention, change the receiver from a club to a person so we don’t have to go through the process of registering for VAT and obtaining TIN numbers thus helping us to get the items out faster.
I just got back from Cinnamon Grand Hotel (no I didn’t party or eat at a fancy restaurant, I just needed to pick up something). But while there I see a brand new Mercedes Benz with no number plates. There were tons of other fancy cars near to it and lot of armed forces and I say to myself, ‘man, I just ask them to help us by perhaps giving a directive by a letter thus making the process faster so that the poor guys don’t have to bust a month’s salary to pay the Rs. 15,000 in additional cost’. Note month’s salary and Rs. 15,000.
It’s pretty painful to think that the poor guys always get screwed and the big guys always get through. Yes, its life. Perhaps now its time to make the change.
I don’t know what will happened. I don’t know the outcome of this post. I hope someone would see that our intention is genuine and perhaps help us. Yes we will get registered next time but just help us to get the boards released faster, that’s all we ask.
Tomorrow the boys will miss work, take a bus from the other side of the country and travel to Colombo. Duration of the journey estimated at 12 hours (yes, in the bus its 12 (unlike in a car or helicopter) and with this heat, it is going to be a long tough journey). We will probably have to find accommodation etc as well. A lot of money again spent. Why? Because we are passionate about the sport and in-spite of all the hardship we will and continue to face, we will strive to see at least a bit of our dream being realized. Sri Lanka - The Birth of a Surfing Nation.
March 23rd, 2011
Sril Praneeth - one of Sri Lanka's Surfing Talents that have been supported by P4R
Finally we can confirm the date for this years Main Paddle Event at Saunton Beach.
This years event will be held on Sunday 21st August. Full details to follow but we can confirm that Saunton Hotdoggers Longboard Surf Club will be doing the BBQ!
Douglas E Powell will be performing live on the beach as will The Side Walk Anthem (Jules Yount and Stuart Wills).
Rescue Cover has been confirmed thanks to Phil Hill and Stormin Norman of Hotdoggers Fame!
Please keep an eye on the website for further details on how to enter and raise money for our projects.
As usual we will hold a Sponsored Social Paddle and a Paddle Race for those feeling competitive!
Raffle and Tombola will be the go as well.
Please be patient for further details as i am busy in Sri Lanka at the moment.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tim
March 18th, 2011
Paddle4Relief, with the assistance of Surf Relief UK and Christian Surfers UK, have successfully shipped a consignment of surf boards and surf equipment to Sri Lanka.
The shipment was made by means of donations from Paddle4Relief, Tiki Surf International, Constantine Bay Surf Shop, Croyde Bay Surf Life Saving Club and numerous UK surfers, to Arugam Bay Surf Club.
The project was overseen by Phil Williams of the UK charity Christian Surfers UK and co-ordinated by Tim Tanton of North Devon based charity Paddle4Relief. Tim collected and packed the consignment of 36 boxes with a volume of more than six cubic metres and a weight in excess of 310kg.
A garage full of Surfboards 4 Sri Lanka
P4R Founder, Tim, had seen his garage gradually fill up with surfboards from as far back as the 1970’s and as new as 2010. The consignment included rescue boards, SUP’s, longboards, bodyboards, shortboards, fish, mini-mals and soft-tops, along with fins, leashes, wax, rash vests, wax combs, t-shirts and skateboard parts.
Surfboards waiting collection
Tim was fortunate to have the help of North Devon Christian Surfer Mark Dennis in loading the consignment onto the lorry for transportation to the port of departure in the UK. The surfboards etc are expected to reach the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in mid-March. They left the UK on the vessel, Ever Sigma, on the 23rd February, thanks to Paul Beeson of the freight company, GBS Freight Services Ltd.
Arugam Bay Surf Club Secretary, Krishantha Ariyasena, together with West Coast Surf Club Founder, Dilsiri Welikala, will be receiving the consignment in Colombo.
The equipment will then be distributed by Arugam Bay Surf Club to developing surf clubs around the coast of Sri Lanka.
P4R Founder Tim Tanton and a winters work!
Further donations of surfboards and surfing equipment will be gratefully received for future consignments to Sri Lanka. Contact tim@paddle4relief.co.uk for further information.
February 28th, 2011
Paddle4Relief are blessed again with more volunteers wishing to raise funds for coastal communities affected by natural disasters, both in Sri Lanka and around the world. Mental Health Support Worker’s, Lisa and Lyn, based at North Devon District Hospital are on a quest to lose a few pounds for charity! Both are colleagues of P4R’s Founder, Tim Tanton. They have both donated items for the children and young people of Sri Lanka and purchased P4R merchandise to help raise money for the P4R cause. But they both wanted to do more, so they came up with the idea of losing a few lbs in an effort to raise a few £’s!
Lisa and Lyn - Diet4Relief 2011
Tim, has always had a keen interest in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet, so Lisa and Lyn asked him to provide important guidelines to help them lose some weight. They knew Tim was heading off back to Sri Lanka for two months and thought this would be the ideal time to try and raise money whilst he was away. Tim was more than happy to help his invaluable colleagues.
So please, if you would like to sponsor these lovely ladies in their quest and support Paddle4Relief in 2011, contact Tim at tim@paddle4relief.co.uk and he will put you in contact with Lisa and Lyn.
February 28th, 2011
Blown Away!
So while i’m busy packing surfboards to sea freight to Sri Lanka, the British weather decides to put a spanner in the works!
Well, it’ll take more than the loss of render and a few bricks to stop the latest Paddle4Relief Project.
Barnstaple builder, Steve Bailey, will be doing what he does best when he is not fishing! Steve, who spent a month in Sri Lanka a few years back, carrying out building work at the local Pre-school, is always the first port of call for any building work. His twenty plus years of being in the trade are irreplaceable. He, and his trusty labourer, Mark, are a truely grafting combination and will have the house fully repaired in no time at all.
So, whilst Steve and Mark look after my house’s needs i will continue to concentrate on freighting around forty surfboards, bodyboards, SUP’s and surf rescue boards have been individually boxed by yours truely!
The boards will go to Arugam Bay Surf Club, Madiha Surf Club and the newly formed West Coast Surf Club to help the development of surfing in Sri Lanka.
If you have any unused, unwanted, old or broken surf equipment that you would like to donate to the young surfers of Sri Lanka then please email me.
Another shipment will be planned for later this year or early next year.
February 6th, 2011
Walking the walk!
Dear Tim,
How are you i am doing well here.
The happy news i like to inform you our surf club have been registered under the sports ministry of Sri Lanka.
This is the register number 142018.
I feel my big responsibility reached the moment.i try since 2006 but yesterday reached.
i hope from this year we can do better works.
Kind regards.
FAWAS Lafeer (Chairman).
Arugambay Surfing Club,
Main point Road,
Arugambay,
Pottuvil,
Sri Lanka.
Mail:abay_surfers@yahoo.com
Web:www.arugambaysurfclub.com
Mobile:+94(0)771759620/779 552 268
February 1st, 2011
P4R Competition Surfboard Project
Hi All,
as always, apologies for the mass mail out.
Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2011 brings you all your wishes and needs.
It is now the time of year that i sit at home perusing the 2011 tide table and wondering which are the best tides for the Main Big Paddle Event.
Favorite this year looks like Sunday June 5th. But i am open to suggestions, and i do realise that there may well be other events on that may clash - please let me know.
Would you all be so kind to take a minute or two, and think whether you would like to get involved in the organising, or in volunteering on the day, or donating a prize, sponsoring someone, or being an actual participant of a fun filled event that brings a smile to many who are less fortunate than ourselves.
I value any feedback and advice on improving the day, and in being able to make it a more fun filled and larger fund raising event than ever.
2010 saw around £3500.00 raised thanks in particular to two outstanding sponsorship raisers, Stephen Gash and Steve ‘Joeby’ Slight.
Please let me know if you feel the 5th June would be an ideal date. I am more than happy to organise it later in the year if i can have confirmed support.
Please let me know if you think we should return to later in the year, such as August. I know the past two years have proven to be better for the weather, but alas, there have been less entrants.
We will again be running a Paddle race for those of you are more competitive.
To all our previous sponsors, please be generous again. I realise that the economic climate is not ideal, and i and those that benefit from your support, from across the ocean, are really grateful for your generosity.
So, please everyone, let me know your thoughts on this years paddle. Please give me an idea of who is interested in taking part and raising money.
Many thanks to one and all for your continued support.
Kind regards
Tim
P4R Competition Surfboard Project
Leheni Pre School
January 8th, 2011
Samanthi . . . . Sri Lanka's most beautiful Chef
After all these years of travelling to Sri Lanka, and living for months in Arugam Bay, i have failed to hail the unsung hero’s and heroin’s of this tropical isle. So, i’m going to start with the one person that provides me with all the fuel i need to surf! Samanthi is affectionately known as ‘Number 1 sister’. I have known Samanthi and her family for the past 6 years. She and her sister, Erandathi, were the teachers at the Pre-School, near the Buddhist Temple, at the south end of the village. Samanthi and her family have fed and watered me over this time. They have even tolerated me living in their cabanas and at times the castle. I have to surf and go fishing to prevent the weight piling on! The problem is the food! Samanthi’s cooking is the best. It is not only the Rice n Curries that she serves up, but the cakes, pizzas, desserts and short eats. I never come home to Devon lighter than when i went out. Samanthi heads a team of sisters in the kitchen. She is up and starting the kitchen duties at six every morning, and regularly works through until midnight during the tourist season. Way back, when i first arrived, it was Amma doing the cooking, and forever supplying me and the brothers with Tea. Now it is Samanthi, with the assistance of younger sisters Gayani and Ruwanthi, and cousins Geeva and Sudu. There is a constant call for me to come and eat from the kitchen, and if i miss a meal, it is always waiting there for my return. Not only is Samanthi an awesome cook, but she is also beautiful. Be warned though! She has four protective brothers, a father, and a brother in law!
November 24th, 2010
Windfalls! Apples!
These are real apples! Not selected for their colour, shape or size . . . . . but because they are apples! And these apples show real character, and taste like real apples! Not to be outdone, my father brought me a gift as well. All i have to do is skin, chop and cook! And then . . . . . . . . . . . . . blissfully eat with piping hot custard . . . . . . and cool clotted cream . . . . . that melts over the custard and apples! I guess the front door will be locked again, and i’ll be sat in front of the wood burner enjoying the spoils of autumn. Don’t try contacting me at this time!
November 24th, 2010
Mince Pies!
Oh how i love this time of year! Mince Pies! And homemade to boot!
A truely special gift from my mum.
Now is a time to lock the front door, warm the pies, dish up the clotted cream, and sit around the wood burner! Heavenly times!
Thank you Mum. I knew there was a reason for me to still be in the UK!
A plateful of Heaven . . . . . . . Home made mince pies!
November 24th, 2010
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