Just spoke with my friends in Sri Lanka....

[Obamarama]

I work for an importing company and one of our main suppliers is located in Sri Lanka. Over time our business relationships have evolved in to friendships in general.

I tried to call as soon as I heard about the tsunami disaster, but understandably the circuits were busy. I emailed, got a reply back, and they just called about half an hour ago.

My friends and their coworkers are all okay and took the day off work to collect water, medicine, food, etc...and deliver to the people living along the coast.

The scene sounds like hell, literally. It's about 85 degrees and about 90% humidity. Human corpses are intermingled with dead animals and fish and the stench is already overwhelming.

They fear there is going to be a rising death toll due to disease (cholera, typhopid, dysentary, etc...) that stems from unsanitary conditions.

If you can, please donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross. I tried to post a link directly to the donation area, but the server has been overwhelmed. Instead, I have posted the general ICRC website link, and on it there is a link to the donation area.

Thank you.

http://www.icrc.org/eng

[demnan]

1. A co-worker from Southern India

told me his town was heavily damaged as well, but no one he knew was killed, at least.

[MissBrooks]

2. OH MY GAWD!!

That is just awful.
I'm glad your friends are okay, though.

[Deja Q]

3. What type of imports?

[Flaxbee]

4. Anyone know anything about Arthur C. Clarke?

He lives in Columbo but is old and very ill (recurring polio); he's a family friend but we haven't been able to find anything out.

[Obamarama]

5. If he's in Colombo, he's probably okay...

Most of the devastation was on the eastern and southern side of the island. Colombo, on the western edge, was affected but it was much less devastating.