AS DONATIONS continue to flow in to the Evening Star's tsunami appeal fund, generous Bangladeshi and Indian restaurateurs have again pledged to help us reach our target.

AS DONATIONS continue to flow in to the Evening Star's tsunami appeal fund, generous Bangladeshi and Indian restaurateurs have again pledged to help us reach our target.

So far, six restaurants from across Suffolk have promised to donate half of their proceeds from two charity nights to the Star's appeal to raise money for the village of Negombo in Sri Lanka.

The appeal for the forgotten village was set up after former Star photographer, Nicky Lewin, discovered the devastation there last month while on an assignment.

Already, several local businesses have donated £100 as part of the Star's Scroll of Honour.

And now, the six generous restaurateurs have promised to add their weight to our appeal.

The Dhaka, Maharani and Bekash in Ipswich have all signed up along with the Bombay Nite in Walton, the Royal Bengal in Woodbridge and Khan's in Stowmarket.

Mahbub Alam, owner of the Bombay Nite, is co-ordinating the group of restaurants.

He said: "Our restaurant has raised money before when we did a charity walk for the flood victims in Bangladesh. We raised £7,528.

"We are going to try to get as many people as possible to dine in our restaurants and there will be a raffle too.

"The amount of money we raise will depend on how many people we get on the night but I think £5000 is a realistic target for us."

The two nights will be held on March 8 and March 15.

Mr Alam added: "Coming from that part of the world is a major reason why we are getting involved in this. I was in Bangladesh when they had the floods. I have seen people suffer and what people go through.

"It is the human factor that has inspired us. Most of the staff here are from that part of the world."

The powerful photographs taken by Nicky Lewin are now on display at the Corn Exchange's Limelight Bar.

The Negombo exhibition, sponsored by the Star, will be open until Friday.

n. What do you think of the ongoing fundraising efforts? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk