Archives

Another step towards commitment to society

Kandy south group correspondent

The Kandy Friend in Need Society (KFINS) established on November 4, 1837 during the Colonial era will take another step towards its commitment to society when the Day Care Centre and Home for the Elders is opened at Meddapathanawatta in Ampitiya, Kandy on Tuesday at 9.30 a.m. by British High Commissioner Stephen Evans.

The KFINS was established 22 years after the last King of Kandy, Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was captured in Medamahanuwara under the patronage of Sir Stuart McKenzie, the then Governor of Ceylon.

During the colonial time, the Government Agent to Kandy was the ex-officio President and the District Judge, the Treasurer of KFINS. Among such Government Agents were George Turner who translated Mahawama into English and Herbert Wace whose name is perpetuated in Kandy's Wace Park lying above the Kandy lake.

Shortly after independence, in 1953, the constitution of KFINS was amended with the provision of having an elected President. The first elected President was Morley Spaar.

The KFINS found a permanent and spacious home in 1936, when W.H. Pate donated his Randles Hill Tea Factory along Peradeniya Road for the establishment of a home for elders.

The Home for the Elders opened in 1938 by the then Governor of Ceylon Sir Reginald Stubbs.

The KFINS has always recalled with gratitude and appreciation the names of three Englishmen who contributed for the establishment and the progress of this Society. They are Sir James Alexander, Stuart McKenize who inaugurated the KFINS, W.H. Pate who donated his tea factory for the establishment of this Home and Sir Reginald Stubbs who opened the Home for the Elders.

During the last 15 years, the KFINS has seen remarkable progress, the old dilapidated buildings have been demolished and a new building complex including a Visramaya Niwasaya (Resting Home) was completed to house over 100 elders. The present complex along Peradeniya Road at Mulgampola in Kandy, stands as testimony to the efforts by the members of the society to help the elderly to spend the evening of their lives without being a burden to others. The first stage of the New Home for the Elders with the Day Care Centre at Ampitiya has been completed at a cost of Rs. 3 million. Helpage Sri Lanka will bear the cost of maintenance of the day care centre for three years.

The KFINS also appreciates that the people of England who contribute towards the Granny's Scheme through Helpage Sri Lanka.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager