In the wake of devastating floods and landslides in Sri Lanka this November, a spontaneous yet deeply meaningful relief effort unfolded—driven by urgency, cooperation, and heartfelt compassion.

When news of the disasters reached us, the wish arose to offer immediate support to those displaced, dedicating the act of generosity as a dāna on the auspicious occasion of Lama Tsongkhapa Day (December 14). With only a few days available, swift coordination was essential. In a remarkable response, Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore reached out almost instantly with an offering of over SGD 5,000 (US$3,900), making it possible to act without delay. This donation was a combined effort of ABC (including ABC members and friends), and the FPMT Social Services Fund (on behalf of the FPMT organization). 

On the ground in Sri Lanka, the challenge was to ensure that assistance reached those most in need through appropriate and reliable channels. I contacted my brother, whose enthusiasm was immediate. He had long hoped to establish a temporary food facility during a crisis but had not previously been able to realize this aspiration. This time, circumstances aligned.

Healthy food packets offered to flood victims.

Working closely with his dear friend Chandana, he approached the District Governor’s office and followed official government procedures to identify a suitable relief camp. Through this process, they were guided to a camp sheltering families who had lost their homes and were unable to return due to ongoing conditions. The displaced residents were housed in a school, transformed into a place of refuge.

What stood out profoundly was the dedication of the camp’s main volunteer—himself a flood victim who had lost his own home. Despite his personal loss, he remained calm, organized, and committed to caring for others. When my brother and Chandana visited the camp, the trauma of the disaster was still clearly visible in the faces of many residents, a silent reminder of the shock and uncertainty they were enduring.

With 160 people living in that camp alone, it was not feasible to prepare food on site. Instead, arrangements were made with the Sanasa Education Canteen, which prepared nutritious and carefully packed lunch packets. Ensuring that the offering was both appropriate and respectful, my brother traveled twice to Meepitiya—several hours from Colombo—to personally assess conditions and oversee the distribution.

At the same time, another urgent request for assistance emerged. We were contacted by the Abbot of Abhayagiriya Temple, who has worked with Tara Lanka for over 10 years. He was visiting a village devastated by landslides in Hatharaliyadda. The situation there was dire, with over 300 people requiring immediate food support. Tara Lanka Foundation was glad to respond, extending its assistance to ensure that meals reached this vulnerable community as well.

Ven. Gendun donating lunch packets in Colombo.

A third act of service took place in Kotte, in partnership with a local temple. This offering provided a meaningful opportunity for Venerable Gendun—a Sri Lankan-born monk and FPMT registered teacher, currently residing in Nalanda Monastery in France— to engage directly in service to his homeland. The event was beautifully organized by Janaka Edirisingha, a dedicated and long-standing Tara Lanka student, whose commitment and careful coordination ensured the dāna was carried out smoothly and with great care.

Across all three locations, these collective efforts—spanning countries, traditions, and communities—demonstrated the power of compassion in action. Though the offerings were simple meals, they carried a deeper intention of care, dignity, and shared humanity. Offered on Lama Tsongkhapa Day, the dāna became not only a response to physical hunger, but also an expression of solidarity, connection, and hope during a time of great difficulty.

May the merit of these offerings contribute to the relief and recovery of all those affected and to bring the healing of the Medicine Buddha promptly to Sri Lanka. 

With grateful thanks to Ven. Lekdron for this inspiring report and to all who contributed to this disaster relief in so many ways. 

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Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.