The proceeds of the L-Istrina auction being held on Sunday, and the funds collected through donations during the six-hour programme that day, will be donated to the victims of the Tsunami tragedy which hit the southeast of Asia on Boxing Day.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima, the chairman of the committee which chose the beneficiaries of this year’s L-Istrina charity event, explained that the decision was taken following a suggestion received from Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant.

During the marathon programme on Boxing Day, Dr Sant, when he was being interviewed by host Peppi Azzopardi, suggested that part of the funds collected should be set aside for the victims of the tragedy which, at the time, was still unfolding.

Magistrate Padovani Grima said the L-Istrina committee called an urgent meeting to discuss the matter, especially after media reports that the death toll has risen to a staggering 114,000. During this meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the funds collected during the six-hour programme on Sunday, and the proceeds of the auction, will be donated to the victims of one of the largest natural disasters in recent history.

President Edward Fenech Adami said the Malta Community Chest Fund, which was supposed to receive 50 per cent of the funds collected during Sunday’s auction, said the MCCF board decided to forfeit its share. The remaining beneficiaries will also be conceding their share.

Dr Fenech Adami said the MCCF has been in contact with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in order to ensure that the funds which will be collected next Sunday will be used in the best way possible.

It is also being proposed that the funds are donated to countries which form part of the Commonwealth, such as Sri Lanka and India.

Andrew Agius Muscat, the chairman of the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd, said the PBS offices had been inundated with calls from people suggesting that part of the funds raised during the L-Istrina programme should be used to help the victims of the southeast Asia disaster.

Mr Azzopardi said the second part of the L-Istrina programme will take place between 1pm and 7pm and will be broadcast live on PBS. He said that more than 80 items will be auctioned. Moreover, around Lm26,000 worth of gifts which were not handed out during last Sunday’s programme will be given out next Sunday.

The telephone lines – 5004-9005 for a Lm5 donation and 5004-9010 for a Lm10 donation – will be open. Lm5 donations are also being accepted through a blank SMS sent to 5061-9205.

Bidders may bid for the artefacts on www.istrina.org.mt Last year this site was the target of jokes and the bidding had to be stopped.

The same seems to be happening this year because someone using the user-name “roddie90” has already placed a bid of Lm40,000 on some paintings, which is too high a price to pay.

Also on Sunday there will be a collection of items like clothes, water, food, bedding, disinfectants and medicine from 8am to 4pm.

These items will be sent in containers to help people in the affected areas.

This collection, which is being organised by the Civil Protection Department, will take place at the Maria Regina Junior Lyceum in Blata l-Bajda and Ninu Cremona School in Victoria Gozo.