Call to public to donate family package for Vakarai families

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry requests the general public to donate the following items which are to be safely packed as `Family Packages’ and to be distributed among 1000 needy families in Vakarai to extend goodwill and promote friendship while marking the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

This is a long term programme aimed at resettling the people and rebuilding their lives permanently.

Foreign and local donors including private companies are requested to donate infant equipment, school equipment (stationery), shoes, mosquito nets, ready made garments (brand new only) for men and women, Bed linen, towels, mats, kitchen utensils, plates, cups, spoons, razors, tooth brushes, toothpaste, soap, candles, lamps, sports equipment, dry rations (including sweets especially made for the new year), plastic chairs, umbrellas, caps, hats, tool kits for carpentry, masonry and brick cutting, agricultural equipment, thermal flasks, first aid kits, chlorine tablets, fishing nets, other fishing equipment, pre-school equipment, chicks, goats and cows (livestock), etc.

There are six collection centres to be kept open from March 15 to April 2 from morning to evening.

The donors can donate above items to International World Social Service Organization, No.217, 6A 1/1, Galle Road, Rathmalana (close to Mount Lavinia Police Station), Wellawatta Kadireshan Kovil, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (next to BMICH), Inzania Arabic Vidyalaya, Colombo 12, St.Anthony’s Church, Wattala and Lionel Premasiri Foundation, Bataganwila, Galle.

The items will be accepted after checking. Then the items will be packed as `Family Packages’ under the thorough supervision of the Armed Forces and will be delivered to Polonnaruwa by lorries and handed over to Armed Forces. The Armed Forces will transport the goods to Vakarai safely and distribute them among the families. Each family packages worth about Rs.8000.

This programme named `Vakareta Ne Gamanak’(A goodwill visit to Vakarai) has been jointly organised by the International World Social Service Organization, Meth Sarana Foundation and Lionel Premasiri Foundation under the guidance of Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda.

Coordination will be done by the Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister’s Office, 5th Floor, Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla. The Contact telephone numbers are 0112883526, 0716322266 and International World Social Service Organization, 217, 6A 1/1, Galle Road, Rathmalana. Registered Number L. 513116.