MANALITO Chando, the joint chairman of the Wiltshire Mercy Appeal, is urging local schools to help rebuild schools and orphanages in Sri Lanka.

He has organised a separate committee called School to School which aims to have Wiltshire schools sponsoring devastated schools and orphanages in Sri Lanka to help them rebuild and continue with their lives.

Mr Chando said: "It's a great way to get the kids involved and we want the schools to discuss how they can help and how they can design and rebuild the devastated schools in Sri Lanka.

"We can help with the logistics and supplies and the schools themselves can discuss exactly how they want to be involved. This is a long term project with a specific focus and specific targets and it can make a real difference."

Mr Chando has already discussed the idea with the LEA and has received the backing of Wroughton based civil engineering company Halcrow who are one of the country's largest engineering companies and carry out work across the world.

"It costs a tenth to build out there what it would cost to build the same thing here. But more importantly it's giving people back their dignity as well as providing work for them," said Mr Chando.

Mr Chando is in the process of writing letters to headteachers and governors of local schools inviting them to become involved in the project. He can be contacted by calling 07843 655788.

Sri Lankan psychotherapist Nisha Wickramasinghe will join her parents tomorrow in helping the survivors of the tsunami in her home country.

Mrs Wickramasinghe, 33, of Verney Close, Swindon, who works for mental health charity MIND, will spend two weeks in the country providing counselling and training for other helpers.