The Lotus Children’s Foundation, a registered UK Charity, Registration Number 1111306, was set up following the Tsunami disaster that affected the South East Asia on the 26th Dec 2004.

The founders Mr. & Mrs. Thayan and their two young children too were caught up in the tragedy unfolded on the 26th Dec 04. They were on holiday at the time in the Southern Tourist resort of Bentota in Sri Lanka. They ran away to safety from the hotel they staying and were lucky to escape, however it was not the case with thousands others. Those poor families living by the coast were the worst affected by the Tsunami disaster, included in the thousands were the young children and elderly people who could not run away from the tall waves that battered the Island of Sri Lanka in the morning of 26th Dec 2004. There were so many people from other countries who were holidaying at the time, surely they did not expect this tragedy to hit them, many of them too perished in the disaster. Over 40,000 people have been official declared dead with many thousands still unaccounted for. The damage to property and infrastructure have been severe, with aid agencies estimating years for the Island to get back on its feet again.

It was the generosity of the world in particular the largest donors being the western nations and the people have given hope to those in Sri Lanka and other countries affected by this disaster. There are so many individuals and organisation’s are here providing assistance and help for those to re build their life. The Lotus Children’s Foundation was set up to help young children left orphaned by the Tsunami Disaster in Sri Lanka. Mr & Mrs Thayan are grateful for support of their business colleagues, employees of Kingsley Group and their friends for their support to the Lotus Children’s Foundation.

The Lotus Foundations Objectives are;

1. To relieve suffering or hardship amongst orphaned children living permanently in Sri Lanka
2. To preserve and protect the physical and mental health of those orphaned children
3. To provide for the education maintenance and welfare of those orphaned children so as to advance them in life and assist in integrating them within their community
4. To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to orphaned children in Sri Lanka
5. In pursuit of the above objectives to provide facilities for health care, education, accommodation and recreation with the object of improving the conditions of life those orphaned children who have need of such facilities."

The Lotus foundation is working with an established charity in Sri Lanka “The Ladani Institute”, a children’s charity set up as announced by the Sri Lankan Government Gazette dated 5th March 2004. They run a number of children’s orphanages in various locations in Sri Lanka. The organisation is headed by Father Neville Coonghe, a humanitarian and a catholic priest. The Lotus Children’s Foundation is currently caring for 250 children. Most of them are cared within the community but fully funded by the Lotus Children’s Foundation for all their expenses. There are community social workers working with the children, the foster families and the school assessing and supporting their daily needs. There are so many others are awaiting support and it is our intention to gradually increase the numbers.