Club News

Lions 306B2 Founder’s Day on grand scale

Beverley Jansz

The International Association of Lions Clubs District 306 B2, Sri Lanka celebrated the Lions Founder’s Day and MJF Night at a glittering ceremony at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Colombo.

A host of VIPs, distinguished guests, Lions, Lion Ladies and Leos attended the ceremony. International Director 2007-2009, Lion Vinod Khanna and Lion Lady Renu were the Chief Guests.

In a message from International President, Lion Albert F. Brandel, MJF, said that “As Knights of blind, our main weapon in the fight for sight is “Sight First”. The incredible success of campaign “Sight First 11,” will enable Lions to protect and restore the sight of millions.

The US dollar 200 million we raised will help us to perform operations and screenings, build eye clinics and hospitals, distribute medication and train eye care professionals, bring the gifts of sight to children and senior citizens and everyone in all parts of the world.”

District Governor, 306 B2, Lion P. Jeyarajan MJF said “As we strive forward in our Lionstic journey, we could be proud of our accomplishments over the past years. Our presence in 205 countries, the network of 1.35 million Lions, the number one status we have reached among the NGO’s, we could go on and on.” he said.

“Today we the Lions of District 306 B2, rejoice with happiness about our newest landmark projects - our own Sight First Hospital at Kadawata which is the brian child of our MCC/IPDG Lion Mahesh Pasqual MJF, and the Dental Unit we have built and handed over to the Wolfendhal Girls’ school which will serve thousands of students in Kotahena area. The great achievements prove the paradigm shift in the quality of our service endeavours, said District Governor, Lion P. Jeyarajan MJF.

Live Wires in service

DG Jeyarajan’s vision to ‘Strive to Thrive’:

Beverley Jansz

“The heights that great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight. While their companions slept, they were toiling upwards through the night”.

These lines of H.W. Longlfellow seem to epitomise District Governor 306 B2, Lion Jeyarajan’s success in Lionism.

Lion Jeyarajan was introduced to the Lions movement by late Lion V.G. Vijayan, who was himself a great Lion.

He would have seen the potential in Lion Jeyarajan when he invited him to join the Lions Club of Colombo City in 1985.

Lion Jeyarajan was inducted by PDG Lion Dr. Fahmy. In 1999 he extended the Lions Clubs of Colombo Capital City and became one of its chapter members.

Under his leadership the Club reached 1st runner up status both in the Most Outstanding Club category as well as the Most Outstanding President category in 2001/2002.

Lion Jeyarajan has held every post in the district hierarchy, such as Dist. Chairman, Zone Chairman, Region Chairman, Dist. Coordinator and Cabinet Treasurer, and has won many awards for his efficiency.

He was elected uncontested as Vice D.G. in 2008/2009 and the rest is history.

He was also responsible for the formations of the four new Lions’ Clubs, New Century, Colombo Harizon, Colombo West City & Colombo Metro City, during that year. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the district, he has been honoured both at District level and International level, with many awards, too numerous to mention, chief amongst them being ‘Lion of the year Award’ and the ‘Int. President’s leadership Medal.’

He is also a Melvin Jones Fellow and all-island J.P.

Lion Jayarajan, is a proud product of St. Sylvestor’s College Kandy, and is the Founder/Managing Director of the Jeya Group of Companies, which has diverse interests in printing, trading & manufacturing.His constant companion is his wife, the charming Lion Lady Shamala, who supports him in all his ventures.

‘Behind every successful man is a woman’ and she is the Livewire of his success. They are blessed with two daughters who are studying in India at the moment and who no doubt will follow in their father’s footsteps in serving the needy.

Lion Buddheni Gunasekera District Governor 306C2

A mother, wife, reaching out to the people :

Beverley Jansz

Lion Buddheni de Z Gunasekera was born to a family of leading lawyers in Negombo. She received her preliminary education at Ave Maria Convent, Negombo and thereafter proceeded to Musaeus College to complete her education.

After her school career, she qualified as a Diploma Holder of the Montessori Method and Pre-School Method of Teaching, Hotel Management and also passed the Higher Local examination of the Trinity College of Music, London.

Buddheni was the President of the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Post and Telecommunication Ministry for 17 years.

She was the Chairperson of the Lion Ladies Committee of District 306A in 1983/84 during which year, Past International Director, Lion Asoka Gunasekera was the District Governor. Under her chairmanship the biggest ever fund-raiser ‘Fantasy Land’ was held, which netted in an income of 1.9 million rupees.

Recognising the dedicated services rendered by the Lion Ladies, District Governor Asoka Gunasekera, built the Camilla School & Home, at Mattegoda, Kottawa for the mentally retarded and physically handicapped children, to honour the Lion Ladies.

Lion Lady Buddheni Gunasekera won the award for the ‘Most Outstanding Lion Lady’ of the District, in 1993/1994.

She was the Charter President of the Lions Club Nugegoda Central in October 1996. During her mantle of leadership, she was recognised for her many achievements. She won the 100% Excellence Award 1996/1997.

She was the Most Outstanding President of District 306C in 1997/1998. Buddheni became a Melvin Jones Fellow in 1999. Thereafter she never looked back and has held many responsible positions in almost every Cabinet as District Chairperson, Zone Chairperson, Region Chairperson and District Governor’s Programme Coordinator for International, Understanding and Corporation and Lions Quest Programme.

Fund-raising has been her forte. She chaired a musical show for the disabled soldiers in 1998/1999, ‘Colours of India’ a Fashion Show with Indian models in 1997/1998, “Mrs. Sri Lanka” for Mrs.

Woman of the World in 1999/2000 and Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Asia Pacific in 2002/2003, which netted in profits of over one million rupees and they were recognised as outstanding projects by the District Governors in office.

International Twinning programmes have been carried out by Lion Buddheni time and again, making history - Zone International Twinning in 1999/2000, Regional Int.

Twinning in 2000/2001 in Chennai and Bangalore, India.

Lions Clubs International recognised Lion Buddheni Gunasekera as one among the ‘Top Ten’ Lions in the world in over 202 countries in the year 2000/2001. She is the only lady so far who has received this award in Multiple District 306, and she and her husband had been the first husband and wife combination to receive this award.

In recognition of her dedicated services, Past District Governor and Multiple Council Chairperson, late Dr. Royston de Silva recommended her to the Ministry of Justice and she was appointed an all-island Justice of the Peace in August 2000.

In December 2001, Buddheni invited three districts in Mumbai, India to twin with three districts in Sri Lanka and this ceremony took place in Colombo in 2002. She received a special donation of 4,000 Intra-Ocular-Lenses from Mumbai and donated them to clubs in her region. This signature project was valued at over Rs. 11 million.

District Governor 306C1 Buddheni has also been bestowed with the privilege of having been invited to make a special presentation to all the Lion Ladies of the District Governors, in the Lionistic world, at the International Convention in Chicago, USA.

Lion Buddheni Gunasekera has attended 18 International Conventions since 1983 commencing from Hawai, up to date.

Today, Buddheni works as the driving force beside immediate Past International Director, Lion Asoka Gunasekera, supporting and involving herself in all his activities. They are blessed with a daughter, Damithri and a grandson, Asoka Nadhul.

Colombo Orient Lions join Chevron Lubricants at Health Camp

Lions Club of Colombo Orient launched a massive health camp with the sponsorship from Chevon Lubricants Lanka PLC in Uswetakeiyawa, focusing the Fishery Community in the village.

This has been their 5th mega health camp completed in a row of 10 proposed health camps under the leadership of the President of the Club Lion Amal Samaratunga. Over 1000 needy in the Fishery Community of the village were benefited.

While 468 of them received calibrated spectacles, eight Catract patients were detected on eye screening who will be directed to the Lions Club Eye Hospital in Wattala for surgery.

The health camp included a general clinic, screening for diabetes and an Eye clinic. Distribution of discounted coupons for the owners of the fishing boats by the officials of the Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC was a special feature at this event.

Young Leos of Wattala Leos Club too were actively involved in this mega event and their efforts and commitment were highly appreciated by the President Lion Amal Samaratunga.

Wattala Lions Art Competition

Lions Club of Wattala conducted an art competition among children. Here the winners are seen with Vice Governor District 306B1 Lion Lakshman Wijesinghe, District Chairperson (Child Welfare), Lion Fidel Fernando, Project Chairman Dr. Mrs. Anoma Wijesinghe, Director A. Baur & Company Mahanama Dodampegama and Deputy Marketing Manager “Stiefel Laboratories” Chirath de Silva. The competition was sponsored by Stiefel Laboratories.

Pic. by Nimal Perera - Wattala group corr.