Nawaloka Hospitals and Ministry of Social Services commemorate International Women's Day

Nawaloka Hospitals, together with the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, commemorated Women's Day with a ceremony held at Kaladuwa recently.

Nawaloka Hospitals who have spearheaded a number of CSR activities in the recent past, Osteoporosis Day, Diabetes Day, Aids Day, being just a few of the activities organised by the Hospital, celebrated Women's Day with a series of events which honoured and celebrated Sri Lankan women and their achievements.

Nawaloka Hospitals offered a cash donation to the Sri Lanka Employment Bureau to bring down 42 housemaids who were stranded in Kuwait, in addition to a special award to young artist Prasanna Rajapakshe for creating a new theme on Patriotism.

Several other Corporates too were involved in this programme including Janashakthi Insurance who gave insurance covers to the value of Rs. 250,000 to five extraordinary female personalities for their services to the country and NSB who made available five fixed deposits to the same individuals to the value of Rs. 10,000 each. Keels Super, Galadari Hotels, Sterling Flowers, Sierra Constructions and Janet Balasooriya Cosmetics were the Corporates who came forward to make valuable contributions in order to make this event a success.

The five personalities who qualified for the "Uthum Liya" award were Sapthala Deepakanthi Ranasinghe, Wickramanayaka Pathirannehelage Padmamala, Swarna Agnes Sirilin Wendalan and J.A. Malkanthi Dammika and Nadeeka Jeewanthi Samarakoon.

In addition Sarala Kariyawasam, internationally acclaimed child artiste received a honorary award and a cash donation of Rs. 50,000 by Srini Dharmadasa wife of Film Corporation chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa , while Dr. Soma Edirisinghe received an honorary award for National Service for her service to the poor of this country from H.K. Dharmadasa.

Jeweler Mallika Hemachandra made available 20 awards for a school dancing troupe hailing from a remote village off Ruwanwella, while Director Nawaloka Hospitals Srini Dharmadasa gave away 20 awards for Dance students.

Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Welfare Ministry, Viji Jegarajasingham spoke on the importance of alleviating the conditions of women in general, while also associated with the day's programme were Maithripala Sirisena, Lionel Premasiri, Professor Hirimburegama, Professor Nayani Welagoda and Sriyani Basnayake.

Speaking on the occasion, Ministers Maithripala Sirisena and Lionel Premasiri said that women were the backbone of society and it was the duty of all citizens to ensure that women received their proper dues and respect from the society in which they live.