Tsunami Stricken Children to Benefit from Ulsterbus
6th June 2005
Buses formerly used by the general public in Northern Ireland will soon be made into mobile classrooms in the Tsunami-stricken regions of Sri Lanka and Indonesia, thanks to a donation by Translink.
Marking the end of a six month appeal, Translink is joining its counterparts from the UK Bus & Coach industry to donate 100 buses to the disaster-hit areas. The official handover takes place on 8 June at Winchester from where the buses will be shipped by charity, Islamic Relief to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. There they will replace children’s school buses that were swept away or destroyed in the tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people and left families bereft.
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of Trade at the Sri Lanka High Commission said: “The arrival of these buses from Asia Bus Response will be seen by ordinary Sri Lankan people as the most visible and concrete benefit from the international community. The kindness of the UK bus industry will leave a positive imprint on the hearts and minds of all the Sri Lankan people for a long time to come.”
Five Translink employees have volunteered their time to drive the five buses over to Winchester for the handover. Frank Clegg from Translink who helped co-ordinate the donation of the five Leyland Leopard buses said:
“Translink wanted to offer practical support to those who have suffered so much in Asia. It has indeed been empowering to be able to play our part in this major bus industry project. These buses have given sterling service over the years and we’re delighted they will now help to rebuild lives and give children on the other side of the world some hope for the future.”
Ends
For further information contact Claire Bonner, Morrow Communications
Tel: 028 9039 3837
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