A dedication ceremony was hosted by the Sri Lankan Army and the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (Army spouses’ organization) on 12 June 2007. In attendance, OBI representatives Bill Barko (Colonel, US Army, retired) and Dr. Richard Stiliha, each in his sixth visit to lend training, medical and engineering support to Sri Lanka.
Over nearly eighteen months, the Sri Lankan Army had designed, procured the supplies, and completed the construction of three high-quality homes funded by Olive Branch to support soldiers and families that lost their homes in the tsunami. Each home cost roughly six-thousand dollars and all labor was performed by members of the Sri Lanka Army Directorate of Engineering. Donations by The Association of Christian Conferences Teaching and Service (ACCTS), the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations and other OBI-supporters allowed these homes to be completed.
