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District Governor Lion Kamal Seneviratne of International Lions Clubs District 306 A 2 has planned many projects for the upliftment of the underprivileged people of Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan Golden Jubilee year of the Lions Clubs International movement. After discussing the progress of the projects with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the District Governor Lion Kamal Seneviratne Lions Clubs International President Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya, MFJ (extreme right) and other cabinet officers are in the picture. (Seneviratne Kanatupitiya Boralesgamuwa)

Lions and standard chartered 'Walk for Sight'

Lions Clubs International has selected Sri Lanka as the country to officially mark 'Lions World Sight Day' on the 7th of October 2007. Events planned for the occasion will include: a walk to promote awareness on curable blindness; cataract surgeries at the two Hospitals built and managed by the Lions of Sri Lanka - the 'Lions Gift of Sight Hospital' Panadura and the Sight First Hospital Hendala and launching of the Childhood Blindness Programme with a public seminar on childhood blindness.

International President Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya will preside over the World Sight day events.

Standard Chartered Bank will be partnering the Lions in the awareness walk. The Walk will commence at 7 am on Sunday October 7 at Francis Road, Wellawatte and will proceed along Galle Road ending at Station Road, Bambalapitiya. The objective is to raise public awareness on this critical issue. The event is open to all and the public are invited to participate.

There are 37 million blind people in the world, 90% of whom live in the developing world and yet a staggering 75% of this blindness is either preventable or is reversible.

During 2006/2007 Standard Chartered Bank, working with the Lions Gift of Sight Hospital, Panadura has restored sight to 200 needy patients, who without this partnership would have suffered in darkeness.

Exemplifying their motto 'We Serve' each year hundreds of Lions clubs around the world hold special Sight related and awareness projects to mark this special occasion.

Lions World Sight Day was created in 1998 to spotlight the importance of eradicating preventable blindness and improving sight and an increasing number of Lions clubs are using this occasion to inform their communities about the importance of sight and make an awareness of the diseases such as diabetes that can impact sight.

World Sight day is an important day in the Standard Chartered Bank calendar and staff across the world plan activities and fund raising events. In addition to partnering the Lions in their walk to raise awareness, the Bank will also partner - the Sri Lanka council for the blind and will donate 100 white canes as part of their sight day activities.

'Mapiya Mehewara' by Attanagalla/Gampaha Asgiriya Lions

A seminar on "Child Birth" was organised by Attanagalla and Gampaha Asgiriya Lions Clubs to educate young parents. It was held at Sanasa Hall, Veyangoda.

Here former Director of Castle Hospital, Dr. Sirisena VOG delivers a lecture. Also in the picture are District Governor 306 B2, Lion Mahesh Pasqual, Region Chairman Lion Viraj Wickremasinghe, Attanagalla Lions Club President, Lion Janaka Munasinghe, Gampaha Asgiriya Lions Club President, Lion Anil Bandara and District Chairman, Lion Thilakaratne Wickremarachchi.

JC Ruwan Senanayake President JCISL Kollupitiya visited India recently and had the opportunity to meet the National President of Junior Chamber International India JC Purushottam O Modi. He also visited the National Head Quarters of the Junior Chamber International India in Mumbai and had discussions with the visiting delegation of the Junior Chamber International Nepal. He also participated in the flagship training programme of the JCI India, National Academy of Leadership and Administration (Nalanda). The National President of Junior Chamber International India JC Purushottam O Modi, (left) with JCISL Kollupitiya President JC Ruwan Senanayake.

Kamal Karunanayake was appointed the 7th President of the International Rotary Club, Colombo Millennium City District 3220. Here former President Justin Karadawala congratulates the new President. Thariqu Thulbha, Governor of the Club is also in the picture.

A scholarship fund was inaugurated in memory of the late Lion John Livera MJF by the members of the Lions Club of Peliyagoda. Zone Chairman Lion W.G. Dhanapala making a presentation to a student Ashan Lakmal.
(Picture by Ivan Nissanka, Divulapitiya Group Corr.)

Compiled by Beverley Jansz

Lions Clubs International marks Lankan Jubilee year

Lions and standard chartered 'Walk for Sight'

'Mapiya Mehewara' by Attanagalla/Gampaha Asgiriya Lions