A great honour

Yesterday in the United States, a Sri Lankan received a very rare honour. Not many Sri Lankans can claim to have led an international organisation, but from today we can be proud of one Lankan who has been bestowed with this distinction.

He is none other than Mahendra Amarasuriya, a true son of the soil who was inducted as the International President of the Lions Movement, which has nearly 1.5 million members around the world.

This is a singular honour for Mother Lanka, at a time when insidious attempts are being made to tarnish its image by various elements with vested interests.

His rise to the top seat at Lions will inevitably raise Lanka’s profile in the eyes of the world. He will not only be the Lions’ Chief, but also an ambassador for Sri Lanka in the true sense of the word.

Lions members around the world will hear a lot from him over the coming year and the country will naturally benefit.

Amarasuriya is an example to other Lankans around the world. Determination, perseverance and hard work can get one to the very top.

Having joined the Lions Movement exactly 40 years ago, Amarasuriya has reached the pinnacle today thanks to his dedication for the cause of the Movement.

Men and women of Amarasuriya’s calibre are sorely needed at this juncture. A well-known businessman, he could have led a comfortable life without being involved in social service.

But he did choose the latter path to tread on because he wanted to help the less fortunate in society. In the Lions, he saw a golden opportunity to help fellow human beings.

His commitment to the under privileged sections of the society is a clarion call for many who pursue wealth at the expense of everything else. In this context, the theme he has selected to govern his work programme for 2007/2008 is highly appropriate: Challenge to Change.

Change is a challenge. Many are content to leave things as they are, without making an effort to improve the status quo.

Poverty, malnutrition and unemployment are often dismissed as things that cannot be helped or changed. This is a wrong attitude. The society itself can spur change, with the Government and social service organisations taking the lead.

It is however disheartening to note the prevalence of certain negative perceptions regarding Non-Governmental Organisations and service-oriented community organisations such as the Lions.

Indeed, there have been many instances where such organisations have come under scrutiny due to financial misdemeanours and other types of fraud. This does not mean that all these organisations have to be tarred with the same brush.

There are NGOs and social service organisations which genuinely render a yeoman service to the public.

Mahendra Amarasuriya and the Lions in Sri Lanka have shown the way for others to follow. There are many individuals and organisations in Sri Lanka who work silently for the betterment of others. The ideal starting point is the grassroots in the village, not the glitzy big cities.

For example, just one well in an arid village can transform lives. Social service organisations have a major obligation to address those needs. Amarasuriya’s rise to the most coveted position in the Lions Movement exemplifies the fact that such local efforts can gain global recognition.