Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

This is a very happy occasion for me in the presence of almost all the past, present and future leaders of Multiple District 306, when I am officially launching my campaign for the post of International Director in Lions Clubs International said Lion Sunil Watawala, the endorsed candidate of multiple district 306.

Although Sri Lanka is a small country, we have produced three outstanding international directors and also one of the greatest international presidents Lions International has ever produced, Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya, who has brought great honour and glory, to Sri Lanka Lion Watawala said.

Lion Watawala was addressing a large gathering of Lions, Lion Ladies, past, present and future leaders of Lions Multiple District 306 at a glittering ceremony held at the Galle Face Hotel last week, to launch his campaign for the post of Lions International Director.

Immediate Past International President, Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya and Lion Lady Kushlani were the chief guests.

Lion Watawala is a dynamic Lion leader with proven skills, nationally and internationally acclaimed corporate personality and an innovative business entrepreneur. A Board Appointee - 2007/2008, he is a recipient of four International Awards and the “Most Coveted Ambassador of Goodwill” Award.

A Multiple Council Chairman (1982/83), Afro Asian Conference held in Colombo in 1983, Chairman Annual District Convention Steering Committee (1983 and 1986) and Chairman, Council of Past District Governors (1986/87).

Lion Sunil’s crowning glory was when he chaired the committee of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Lionism in Sri Lanka. He handled this gigantic task with great efficiency.

The meticulous arrangement made for the street parade of 6000 Lions, Lion Ladies and Leos, the Anniversary Meeting and banquet won the admiration and accolades of the local Lion fraternity and the visiting international dignitaries.

A member of the Lions Club of Negombo since 1969, Lion Watawala is a Board Member from 1970 to date. He has achieved 100 per cent attendance for 37 years. A club President (1973/74) Zone Chairman (1975/76), Lion Sunil received the Zone Chairman’s Award for extension of Lions Clubs and Leos Clubs.

He was also a District Chairman (1978-79), Cabinet Secretary (1979/80 and 1980/81).

It is significant that Lion Sunil is the only Lion to have served as Cabinet Secretary for two successive terms.

Lion Watawala was the youngest District Governor to be elected. (District Governor - 1981/82. His significant achievements include the signing of a Twinning Agreement with District 316B, Korea and this agreement is valid to this day with exchange of annual visits.

A significant service of Lion Watawala was that he built a cancer ward at the Batticaloa General Hospital with Korean assistance. He also built the “Norway-Sinhagama” Lions Village with 25 houses for the poor, with assistance from Norway.

A desiccated coconut miller, owning one of the most modern D/C Mills in Sri Lanka, Lion Sunil was recognised by the Government as the Most Outstanding D/C Miller in Sri Lanka in 1982, 1985 and 1986.

Founder Chairman of the Mahaweli Coconut Plantations Ltd, Lion Watawala was the recipient of the “Most Outstanding Citizen Award” for his contribution to community welfare and development in the field of industrial and business management at the Annual District Convention of District 306A.

An all island Justice of the Peace, Lion Sunil is married to charming Lion Lady, Manel whose Lionistic achievements are equally outstanding.

She is an advisor to the District Lion Ladies group, and represents the Club Environment and Stake Holders Committee of the Negombo Municipal Council. A member of the Negombo Hospital Committee, Lion Lady Manel is the Chairperson, Project to Relocate and Refurbish Rheumatology of Rehabilitation Department of the Negombo Base Hospital.

World’s biggest tsunami project in Lanka

Wherever disaster strikes, the Lions are present as ‘first in’ - when the full fury of the Asian Tsunami struck Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other countries in the region, the Lions were the first in. More significant and lasting was the contribution made by them towards those who lost their homes in the disaster. The Lions have been able to put up houses for the tsunami victims in a remarkable gesture of the true spirit of the Lions - We Serve.

US$ donations

Under Multiple District 306, the International Association of Lions Clubs came together to help fund the dire need for housing among tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. With the Lions Clubs International Foundation donating US$ 7,500,000 and with other donations amounting to US$ 159,882, with a total of US$ 7,659,882, the Lions went to work.

Among the communities in the coastal belt across Sri Lanka, the Lions have been able to put up houses that have been given back to the communities. In a gesture of goodwill and the spirit of the Lions, the tsunami victims have been able to receive well laid out homes, completed to suit their needs.

Most tsunami affected residents consider the homes built by the Lions to be even better than the ones they lost. In the Ampara and Pothuvil districts, 132 have been completed while in Hikkaduwa, 30 units have been constructed.

In Hambantota, 150 houses were completed and in Kalutara/Panadura, another 112 and 47 in Balapitiya/Kosgoda. Along the southern coast, 114 houses were completed in Matara and a further 25 in Kalutara. Moratuwa saw 16 houses completed, making the total of completed tsunami homes in those areas at 626.

Further towards the north-west, 28 homes were donated in Wennappuwa and eight in Negombo, in addition, in the district of Galle, out of planned 50 housing projects, 49 are in progress with one completed.

In the district of Batticaloa, out of 129 planned, 119 are in progress while 10 have been completed. In Trincomalee, 17 have been planned and seven have been completed with 10 in progress. Out of 239 homes planned for Jaffna, 38 have been put up with 201 in progress.

1350 homes planned

In total of 435 planned projects for these districts, 56 have been completed with 379 in progress. 165 homes are yet to be put up in Jaffna and 88 in Trincomalee. Out of 1350 homes planned in total, the Lions are happy that they have been able to complete some while others are yet being put up.

According to Lion S. Sivanathan who is overseeing the Tsunami Housing Project in Sri Lanka, the project is continuing amidst a challenging environment. Committed to long term rebuilding efforts at disaster sites such as housing, the Lions have been able to raise a staggering US$ 15 million following the tsunami, for reconstruction and relief operations.

LCIF grants

In addition to funding houses for tsunami affected residents, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) now under the stewardship of Imm. International Past President Mahendra Amarasuriya, provides a multitude of grants for local disasters and relief operations around the world every year.

Commenting on the success of the tsunami housing project in Sri Lanka, one of the biggest in the island, Lion Amarasuriya who has been able to bring in a new sense of change and thinking to the Lions during his tenure as International President during 2007-2008, says that the disaster response is a key area for LCIF and the Lions across the world.

As the world’s largest NGO with UN recognition and endorsement for its work across the global, the Lions have been instrumental in heralding in change to many of the world’s worst affected areas.

Lions Essay Contest winners

The awards presentation ceremony of the 17th Annual All Island Essay Contest conducted by the Lions International District 306A-2 was held at Global Towers Hotel, Colombo 6. This event was sponsored by the Colombo Plan Secretariat.

It was organised for the 17th successive year by District Coordinator for prevention of Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDs, Lion S. Ramachandran MJF, JP of the Lions Club of Dehiwala North. District Governor, 306 A-2, Lion S. Karunasekera was the chief guest.

Sameen at Open Forum of JCI APDC

1989 World President of Jaycees International and former Provincial Council Member of the Western Province Isfahani Sameen was invited by the Chairman of the JCI Asian Pacific Development Council, Toshiharu Shimizu to be a Panelist at the Open Forum of the JCI Asia Pacific Development Council held recently in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Sameen had been a Development Officer, Councillor and the 1988 Chairman of the Asian Pacific Development Council which was founded 35 years ago and has its Headquarters in Japan.

Friends of Accident Service Club AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the “Friends of Accident Service Club” was held last week at Peach Valley Hotel, Colombo 7.

This club was been formed to assist persons who meet with accidents, the club’s Treasurer M. Ashraff Hussain said. Wherever an accident occurs, members of the club rush to the spot to render all assistance to rush the injured to the nearest hospital, inform relatives and render other assistance needed.

This service is provided entirely free of charge by the members of the “Friends of Accident Service Clubs,” Ashroff said.


Dr. Anil Jasinghe (right) being felicitated and presented a memento by Dayasiri Warnakulasuriya a member of the friends of the Accident Service Club, for the nine years of dedicated service rendered by Dr. Jasinghe to the Accident Service.	Treasurer, M. Ashroff Hussain delivering the keynote address at the AGM. Seated from left are Secretary of the Club, M. I. M. Razik, President and Director of the Accident Service, Dr. V. P. Ariyawanse, Vice President Raja Sinnadorai and Immediate Past President, Dr. Anil Jasinghe.