Rotary transcends boundaries of Religion, Language and Culture

PRESIDENT of Rotary International Wilfred J. Wilkinson from the Rotary club of Trenton, Ontario, Canada, describes Rotary in the Rotarian Magazine of September 2007 as “An Organization that transcends the boundaries of religion, language, and culture. It is a force for peace, good will and fellowship and that it is 1.2 million strong.

Paul P. Harris (1868-1947) a lawyer, was the founder of Rotary, the world’s foremost international service club.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, promote high ethnical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin, U. S. A. on 19th April 1868 Paul Harris was the second of six children to George N. Harris and Cornelia Bryan Harris. He received an LL.B. from the University of Iowa and received an Honorary LL.B. from the University of Vermont.

It is interesting to note that Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and travelled extensively in U. S. A. and Europe selling marble and granite. In 1886 went to Chicago to practice law.

On 23rd February 1905 Paul Harris formed the first Rotary Club with three other businessman: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Paul Harris named the new club “Rotary” because members met in rotation in their various places of business.

The second Rotary club was formed in San Francisco in 1908. By 1901 there were 16 clubs, the National Association of Rotary Clubs was organized. When Clubs were later formed in Canada and Great Britain, the name was changed to ‘the International Association of Rotary clubs in 1912, which was later shortened to Rotary International in 1922.

Paul Harris was the first president of the National Association and the International Association. By the time Paul Harris passed away on 27th January 1947 there were 6,000 clubs all over the world.

Today there are more than 30,000 clubs in 174 countries. Rotarians lend their time and expertise and resources to a number of vocational programs and community and international service projects.

Today the Rotary Foundation scholarship program is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program. Rotary International has raised U. S. dollars 462 million to purchase vaccine for all the world’s children and celebrated 100th Anniversary of Rotary in 2005 in a polio free world.

Rotary was first introduced to Sri Lanka then Ceylon in 1929, when the late “big” Jim Anderson promoted the formation of Rotary club of Colombo. In the same manner he started Rotary in countries such as Philippines, Malaysia and India. Sri Lanka was the 3rd or the 4th country to have Rotary in this part of the world.

When Rotary clubs were first formed in Sri Lanka our district covered all the countries extending from Afghanistan in the West to Burma in the East. With the growth of Rotary over the years the districts got smaller and just before Sri Lanka became a separate district of its own in 1991 (District 3220) our district covered a part of Tamil Nadu.

Over 59 Clubs in Sri Lanka (District 3220) are engaged in various vocational, community, youth and international service projects.

One of the main projects handled by our district is the construction 25 new schools in the tsunami affected areas-together with Standard Chartered Bank, which was featured in the internationally famous Rotarian Magazine.

The present Governor of our district is Rtn. Thariq Thulba. Sri Lankans can be proud to have one of their past Governors, Rtn. PHF K. R. Ravindran as Director of the Rotary Foundation.

The relatives of Rotarians are eligible to form Inner Wheel clubs. Young adults, university students and young professionals and businessmen from the age group of 18 to 27 years form Rotaract clubs. School children from the age of 14 to 18 form Interact Clubs (possibly future Rotarians).

Therefore, the Rotary family consists of Rotarians, Inner Wheel members, Rotaractors and Interactors. Rotary movement has also extended its services to the villagers, who have formed into Rotary village corps.

Indra Kumar Wijethilake (Lawyer) Rotarian PHF, Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan

Kelaniya Lions donate Computer Training Centre

District Governor, 306 B-2, Lion Mahesh Pasqual -top (extreme right) opening the Lions Computer Training Centre at Kelaniya. Also present are Past District Governors Lion Anura Perera and Lion Lucian Merinnage, and President Lions Club of Kelaniya, Lion Quintus de Alwis. In the picture below(from right) Chief Incumbent, Gonawala Sri Wardhanarama Temple, Navinne Sugunasara Thera, Pastor, Baptist Church, Gonawala, Sunil de Silva, AGA, Saman Perera. District Chairman, Vocational Training, Lion Tilak Munasinghe and Zone Chairman, Lion Senaka Ratnaweera.

A Modern Computer Training Centre and Vocational Training Centre was ceremonially opened by District Governor, 306 B-2, Lion Mahesh Pasqual at Granville Wickramaratne Memorial Centre, Kelaniya.

This is a project of Lions Club of Kelaniya. The occasion was graced by Past District Governors, Lion Anura Perera, Lion Lucian Merinnage, and President, Lions Club of Kelaniya, Lion Quintus de Alwis, Lions and Lion Ladies of the Kelaniya Lions Club and District Officers were present.

Addressing the gathering, District Governor 306 B-2, Lion Mahesh Pasqual said that the project was a very worthy one, in that unemployed youth will be trained on house-wiring, free of charge.

Lion Pasqual said at present there is a big demand for modern house-wiring and there is a dearth of qualified electricians in Sri Lanka.

“Our main aim is to train youth in various fields, so that they would be able to secure employment without being a burden to the government and country, Lion Pasqual said.

Training will be provided by experts in the field, free of charge.

Sri Lanka Council for the Blind honours Lion Hussain

Ruzaik Farook, Kollupitiya Corr.

The Sri Lanka Council for the Blind honoured Lion M. Ashroff Hussain for the outstanding service rendered towards the blind. At a ceremony held to mark the International White Cane Day at Public Library Auditorium, Colombo 7 recently, Secretary of the Council for the Blind S. L. Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Lion Ashroff Hussain, Past President, Lions Club of Colombo West.

Eye Camp at Battaramulla

Wehelle Piyathilake Maharagama special correspondent

An eye camp jointly organised by the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred City Development and the Lions district organisation 306/C/2 was held recently at ‘Chittavivekasramaya’, Wickramasinghapura, Battaramulla.

This camp was open to Buddhist monks and nuns as well. Here a bhikkhuni gets her eyes tested with the most modern eye equipment. Minister Dinesh Gunawardane is also present.

Lions Eye Clinic at Anuradhapura

Lions Eye Clinic and Secretariat at Anuradhapura was built by PDG Lion Graetian Gunawardhana of District 306B2 with the assistance of a donor to screen eyes for Cataract Surgery and to donate spectacles for the needy in Anuradhapura.

This was declared open on October 03 during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Lions of 306 by Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Chief Minister North Central Province.

Picture shows part of the Lions who took part during the ceremony with the District Governor Lion Mahesh Pasqual.

Inner Wheel Club of Mount Lavinia

President Mrs. Swarna Rodrigo and members of the Inner Wheel Club of Mount Lavinia visited a health clinic at St. Francis of Assisi Church Mount Lavinia and distributed Medicines, vitamins and Samaposha to the patients who attended the clinic.

Here, Mrs. Swarna Rodrigo hands over Medicines, Vitamins and Samaposha to Parish Priest Rev. Jayanath Jeyveevasingam at the health clinic. Dr. Shilani Weerasinghe is also in the picture. The health clinic is conducted every Saturday at the same location.

Lions Club of Colombo West Office-bearers 2007/2008

Seated from left: Shirani de Silva, Sanctuary, Shirly Rodrigo, Treasurer, Noel Jayasingham, President, M. Ashroof Husain - IMM Past President, Prof. Wilfred Perera, Past Council Chairman, Governor Gamini de Silva.

Standing from left: Directors: Nalin Gunasekara, Sybil Jinadasa, Pradeep Edirisooriya, Ravi Fernandopulle, Terrance Perera, and Irufan Nagariya.