Ration packs for Vakarai families

Public assistance sought:

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry requests the public to donate following items to be distributed among needy families in Vakarai to extend goodwill and promote friendship while marking the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

The collection of goods will commence tomorrow. Several companies, organizations and individuals have already been responded positively for the request.

Foreign and local donors including private companies are requested to donate cement, materials required to provide electricity to houses (wiring materials), paint, roofing materials, infant equipment, school equipment (stationary), 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, agricultural equipment, thermal flasks, first-aid kits, chlorine tablets, fishing nets, other fishing equipment, pre-school equipment, chicks, goats and cows (livestock), etc.

There will be six collection centres to be kept open from March 15 to April 2. The donors can donate above items to International World Social Service Organization, No.217, 6A 1/1, Galle Road, Ratmalana (close to Mount Lavinia Police Station), Wellawatta Kadireshan Kovil, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (next to BMICH), Insania 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 safely packed as `Family Packages’ under 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 among 1000 families. Nineteen companies have already promised to supply different items.

This programme named ‘Vakareta Ne Gamanak’(A goodwill visit to Vakarai) has jointly organised by 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 Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister’s Office, 5th Floor, Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla. Contact telephone numbers are 0112883526, 0716322266 and International World Social Service Organization, 217, 6A 1/1, Galle Road, Rathmalana. Registered Number L. 513116.