Compiled by Beverley Jansz

JCISL Kollupitiya - A dynamic chapter

Junior Chamber International Sri Lanka (JCISL) is one of the youngest chapters which is just five years old, and is the most dynamic chapter. Its President is JC Ruwan Senanayake.

Ever since its inception they have contributed to creating better leaders through their training programmes and a better society through their many projects embarked on during the short period of time.

JCISL first trains individuals and then equips them with the skills needed, get the individuals to make an example first to the family, then to the office or work environment and finally to the society. The organization is focused on the age group between 18 and 40. " We create better leaders to create better societies. "We show you how to achieve more than you thought possible in your family, business, and social environments, said JC Senanayake.

Some of our flagship projects are working with women prisoners at Welikada where an exhibition of their works in paint and needlecraft named "Needle tricks" was organised at the Hilton Hotel.

Senanayaka mentioned that they were one of the first organisations to visit tsunami hit areas with medical equipment and clothes for the affected during the end of that year. They also donated 1,500 spectacles to people in Killinochchi.

Other projects included conducting drug awareness programmes with the Police Narcotics Team, where every district was visited and information and advice given as well as celebrating World Handicap Day with nearly 300 individuals from 20 homes at the Henry Pedris Grounds. JCISL also had a foster parent scheme where the clubs took care of a family of two children and assisted to build a house for them.

An incubator was donated to the Gampaha Base Hospital with the help of our chapter, Senanayaka said.

"Every month we conduct training programmes for members and society. So far we have held many leadership and soft skill training programmes. We also conducted training programmes to the southern region Police Public relations officers, Sri Lanka Institute of Credit Management," he explained.

A massive health camp at Ratnapura which included a blood donation camp collecting more than 110 pints of blood, a diabetic clinic and a general health check, along with a donation of spectacles to those in needy, were also held.

Future plans are to publish a stamp on JCISL and the recognition of completing 52 years in Sri Lanka and to conduct a HR conference with the help of leading countries to spread the message of JCI to the HR Community.

The Junior Chamber International prides itself to be the largest youth leadership organisation in the world with a quarter of a million members and alumni of millions. It began in St Louis Missouri in the United States in 1915 and has had many great men in its fold such as John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Kofi Anan.

"SStop" Cancer project by Australian Lions Club

by Nimal Perera, Wattala group corr.

Lions Club of South East Business in Wheelers Hill 3150, Victoria, Australia has come forward to launch a massive project named "SSTop Cancer Project" to prevent cervical cancer in Sri Lanka.

Project Chairman Lion Daya Fernando who arrived in Sri Lanka recently, announced the SSTop cancer project at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Hendala when he was addressing the 24th Charter Anniversary of the Lions Club of Hendala.

Lion Daya Fernando said that they are hoping to enlist the support of the Sri Lankan community living in Australia to make this project a success and help save lives in Sri Lanka. "This project needs an enormous amount of funds to be raised. Estimated cost exceeds Australian dollars 250,000." he said.

It is a fact that in developed countries with well organised screening systems, the incidence of cerrial cancer has been reduced by at least 70-80 per cent.

One of the great public health success stories in Australia is the implementation of the national cervical cancer screening programme. The screening programme has resulted in the continuing drastic fall in the incidence of cervical cancer and the mortality from the disease. "SStop Cancer" is the acronym for the programme. (Screening in Sri Lanka to Prevent Cancer of the Cervix.)

Using proven methodologies and lessons from the Australian cervical cancer screening programme, one of the aims of SStop Cancer is to enhance the current nation wide programme in Sri Lanka to prevent cervical cancer, beginning with implementation of the effective Pap Smear Screening in several provinces and their collaborating hospitals throughout the country.

More specifically, this programme aims to geographically expand the availability of screening facilities in Sri Lanka via new hospital facilities, and proposed mobile units that has the potential to reach women in more remote areas of the country.

The project will commence in the teaching hospitals of Kurunegala and Galle and later expand to other areas.

Lion Fernando appeals to all Lions to conduct village level programmes on SStop cancer project to educate and encourage women including girls who work in the factories in the Free Trade Zones to join this valuable project.

"This will be a great opportunity for Sri Lankan women to save ther lives from cervical cancer" he said. Any donation for this humanitarian project can be sent directly to the Treasurer, SStop Cancer Project, Lions Club of South East Business Inc, P.O. Box 3264, Wheelers Hill 3150, Victoria, Australia.

Colombo Somerset 306 B2 - Eye Camp An Eye Camp has held at Sri Dharmaraja Viharaya, Dehiwela by the Lions Club of Colombo Somerset - 306 B2. Over 250 patients were screened and new calibrated spectacles were issued. Thirty cataract patients were identified and surgery was arranged free of charge. Here Dr. Asela Abeydheera Coordinator, “Vision 20/20” program, Family Health, examining a patient. Looking on are Lion Mahesh Pasqual, District Governor, PCC Lion Upali Samarasinghe and Club President Lion Shalini.	The installation of new Cabinet Members of Lions Clubs International District 306-A-2 was conducted by President of Lions International, Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya at a ceremony held at the BMICH recently. Here Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya installs Vice District Governor, Lion S.K. Karunasekera. District Governor, Lion Kamal Seneviratne (MJF) is also in the picture. Pic. Seneviratne Kahatapitiya, Boralesgamuwa group corr
Rotary extends services to Ranaviru Organisation Ministry of Ports and Aviation held a felicitation ceremony to recognise “Ranaviru” (war heroes) at the Colombo Port where the Rotary-Colombo Down Town donated wheel chairs. Here President Rotary-Colombo Down Town Rtn Capt. Suranjan de Silva donating wheel chairs to the representative of “Ranaviru Organisation” in the presence of Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Dy Minister of Aviation and PA to the Minister Senaka Abeygoonasekara. Capt. de Silva is also the MD/CEO & Head of Pilot Training of Asian Academy of Aeronautics. Picture by Herbert Perera	Sri Lankan Lions at Chicago Convention Sri Lanka delegates, Lion M.T. Farook and Lion S. Rekogama VDG 306 A1, along with Lions International President Lion Mahendra Amarasuirya at the Lions International Convention held in Chicago, USA, recently. Lion Lester Aponso, District Governor 206 A1 has appointed Lion M.T. Farook (AGM-Sales Colombo City, Jayashakthi Insurance) to his cabinet as District Chairman for Golden Jubilee Celebrations, ISAMI Forum and Special Events.
Lions Club of Badulla donated breakfast and bottled water to mentally disabled children of “Suhada Lama Nivasaya”, Kotte and Sambodhi Nivasaya, Lunuwila, when the children came to Badulla on a pilgrimage to Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vidyalaya. Here Badulla Lion Club President Lion Havin Fernando distributing the breakfast and bottled water. Looking on are Club Secretary, Lion Mahinda Alwis, Club members, Matron and staff of the childrens’ home. The donation was made at the Badulla Railway Station.	Kelaniya Lions donate house Lions Club of Kelaniya donated a house valued at Rs. 200,000 to a needy person, Mrs. Priyanka Chandrani, a widow. The project was originated by Zone Chairman, Senaka Ratnaweera. The keys to the house was handed over by District Governor, Lion Mahesh Pasqual. In the picture are Lion Senaka Ratnaweera, Lion Lady Kumari and Lion Lady Rashmi Perera and Mrs. Priyanka Chandrani at the handing over ceremony.