Club News

Kid Care Home

Lions 306B-2 signature project for destitute children:

Beverley Jansz

It was the year 2005/06 when Lion Graetian Gunawardhana was elected District Governor to Lions District 306B2. This was the first year of the new district that was formed as 306B2 and it was the desire of District Governor Graetian to give a firm foundation to his district 306B2.

During his visit to Lions International Convention that year, his heart and soul was attracted to a key note speech given by a little boy who had a PhD.

He related his story how he rose from the gutters to what he is today, due to the hand extended to him by a member of the Lions movement.

This emotional event inspired Governor Graetian to embark on yet another mission. On his return, to Colombo he planned the most successful fund raiser ever held in Sri Lanka, where a sum of more than Rs. 40 m was collected in record time with the performance of a Chinese Acrobatic Team.

Soon thereafter, a separate Trust was formed under the name Kid Care Home and Resident School Trust. The Governor was supported by officers from the Ministry of Finance, advising the committee and also assisting with funding.

Having searched many places, some of which were offered by the Government. DG Graetian finally ended up selecting a dilapidated building in the Diyagala Boys Town, Ragama. The committee members converted this place in to a beautiful facility with a large hall, dormitories, modern toilets, a library, kitchen, play area etc and it was to be managed by a team of Nuns, one being a former Principal of the St. Bridget's Convent Junior section.

Destitute children numbering 30 were carefully selected by Nuns and today, we see happy contented 30 children with all necessities provided to them, DG Lion Graetian said. They are taken to a nearby school in a van. Some of them sitting for the scholarship exam to Grade 5. All these children are between the ages of 5-8. The Lions Club of Ragama/Welisara and its members have a keen interest and constantly assist us in the running of the home and also provide many necessities. Lion Rose, Lion Hugh, Lion Shyama and Lion Nimmi are some of them who are regular visitors to the home.

DG Graetian with the President of the Lions Club of Colombo Orient, Lion Sirosha Gunatilleke and other members visit the home and provide the children clothing and books etc.

The nature of the Lions were demonstrated when Lion Nihal and Priyanthi De Silva spontaneously donated a land they had received from their parents to the benefit of the Kid Care Home.

The Kid Care Home Trust has given the management to Rev. Brothers of the Diyagala Boys Town, who have in return engaged the services of the Nuns and thereby able to maintain a comfortable home for these destitute children cared by Nuns who demonstrate lots of love and care. They also enjoy the benefits of many other extra activities like music and sports etc that are necessary ingredients for character building. The vision of PDG Graetian is to ensure that the children are provided with the best of education facilities and support them through their education, even the prospect of sending them to an overseas University eventually would mean that we have made our contribution to the society that 30 young leaders will emerge from the category of destitute children in Sri Lanka.

District Governor, Lion Graetian Gunawardhana said that his future plan is to see that the 30 children are given the best education upto university level here and abroad and create 30 top citizens of Sri Lanka. His final aim is to distribute the Rs. 30 million fixed deposit among the 30 children once they become independent citizens, so that they could begin a happy and comfortable life.

He paid a tribute to Revd. Brother Pubudu Rajapakse of Diyagala Boys Town, who is managing the Kid Care Home for the Lions, with a team of nuns, for their love and care shown to the little ones who spend a happy and enjoyable stay at the home.

The members of the Kid Care Trust: PDG Graetian Gunawardhana - Chairman, PMCC Dr. Fahmy Ismail, IPDG P. Jayaraajan, PDG Kingsley Bernand, Lion Graetian Fernando, Lion K. C. Senadheera, Lion Jayantha Gunawardana, Lion Ariya Rekawa, Prof. Rohan Jayasekera, Lion Joe Perera, Lion Norbert Fernando, Lion Rose Fernando, Lion Shyama Silva, Rev. Bro. Henry Dissanayake, Rev. Bro. Pubudu Rajapaksa, Lion Nihal De Silva, Lion Hugh Alwis, Lion Laindra Fernando, Lion Sirosha Gunatilake, Lion Ajith Wanigasekera, Lion Manil Pathirana.

Warm welcome for new DG Lion Kaluarachchi

Lion Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi who arrived from USA after taking oaths as the Governor of District 306C-1 for the Lionistic year 2009/2010, was warmly welcomed by the members of the Lions clubs of Pilimathalawa and Mawanella at the historic Gateway to the Hill capital at Kadugannawa.

Pilimathalawa Lions carried out two social service projects with the participation of Lion Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi to mark his first official visit as the District Governor.

District Governor Lion Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi participated at the presentation of a complete set of Western band Instruments to Gangoda Junior School in Udunuwara Electorate. School had been borrowing Band Instruments from the nearby schools until they received it from the Lions Club of Pilimathalawa.

Pilimathalawa Lions provided materials and financial assistance to obtain electricity and water supply to a newly built house owned by an under privileged family at Hiriyapitiya, Handessa in Udunuwara Electorate and District Governor Lion Saliya Kaluarachchi attended to the event.

Rotary Club of Katugastota 25th Installation ceremony

The 25th Installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of Katugastota took place at a ceremony held at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy, which was attended by a host of distinguished guests and Rotarians. District Governor PHF Suri Rajan was the chief guest. Rtn. Jesly Mohamed was inducted as the 25th President of the Rotary Club of Katugastota while Rtn. Emma Kurukulasuriya was inducted as the Secretary of the Club.

'Uthuru Mithuru' service project today at IDP camps

Jointly by Mahalwarawa - Nugegoda Central Lions:

The spirit of true Lionism is to serve the needy without any racial or religious difference, said President, Lions Club of Mahalwarawa, Lion Dr. Harsha Aluthge, at a press conference held at Kottawa to announce the multi-service project 'Uthuru Mithuru' to be held today at the Settikulam IDP Camp, Vavuniya.

The multi-service project has been organised jointly by the Mahalwarawa Lions Club and Nugegoda Central Lion Club. The project chairperson is Deshabandu, Lion Roshan Yapa, Additional Cabinet Secretary of Lions International District 306C2, who is also the senior advisor to the Ministry of Social Services.

Veteran beautician, Nayana Karunaratne will be the resource person at the project. Hair and beauty programs, arts competitions, talent competitions, medical camps, cricket tournaments and other various programs are on the cards.

Deputy Minister of Social Services Lionel Premasiri and Senior Advisor to the Social Services Ministry, Deshabandu Lion Roshan Yapa will be the Chief Guests. 'This will be a great opportunity for us, Lions, to serve our own people who are in dire need of help,' President Lions Club of Mahalwarawa, Dr. Harsha Aluthge said. He paid a tribute to Deshabandu, Lion Roshan Yapa for organising this worthy project to help people who are in IDP camps, to 'feel at home'.

Interact Club District 3220 on its 47th year journey in Lanka

Interact District 3220 had its annual District Interact Assembly at St. Joseph's Auditorium and commenced yet another year on its 47th year journey in Sri Lanka. Interact - short for "International Action" is a Rotary International sponsored program for youth between the ages of 13-19, which had gained widespread recognition in many countries around the world, including Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Interact Movement - identified as Interact District 3220, boasts more than 1500 Interactors from 81 schools as of now. With its systematic programs focused polishing up the knowledge, skills, and attitude of its members had been committed towards spawning a highly competent future generation for the country's tomorrow.

For the Interact years of 2009/2010, the movement will be maneuvered by District Interact Representative Int. Past President Mafaz Mohideen who hails from the Interact Club of D.S. Senanayake and his dynamic district committee under the theme "Impact through Revolution" patronized by the District Interact Committee Chairman Rotarian PHF Shawn Shiek.

According to the newly appointed district committee, their vision for the new interact year seem to revolve around the objectives of reviving and strengthening the Interact movement as well as having a truly service-oriented approach to all their endeavors - from which they hope to make a lasting impact in the society. And in making this vision a reality, DIR Mafaz and his team seem to have wasted no time. Many weeks after their appointment, they modestly state that they have already revived eight new clubs and made them function accordingly.

The project calendar for the new year seem to feature some prominent projects organized by the district committee itself. Intereve, being one of the early projects, focuses on bridging the gap between the Interact Movement and the school authorities of the schools which are having active Interact clubs. This even brings together myriad of personalities from school administrations, Rotary International, and Interact itself to demonstrate and promote "what interact does". Interaction, is a mega sports festival featuring numerous indoor/outdoor games for the Interactors - stretching over multiple days. The main objective of the event is to bring the Interactors together in a spirit of true sportsmanship to build fellowship for effective teamwork.

Next up, Interflash seems to be the most prominent fundraiser of the year. Featuring live entertainment, this project seeks to effectively sustain the non-profit community service projects and raise funds for many other good causes that the district is supporting.

A new addition to the projects list this year would be the Youth Exchange. The district committee will send out delegates from Interact District 3220 to a foreign Interact District and in turn, host delegates from that Interact District here in Sri Lanka. Although it had been done before in the movement, the district seeks to form new bonds with overseas districts, a slightly overlooked trait by the previous district committees.

Interact RYLA, being organized in place of the former "Youth Camp", is a residential leadership building event for Interactors. Under the supervision of Rotarians, the project will feature many entertaining and skill-enhancing trials that any school student would immensely benefit from.

Historic Gideons Convention August 29-30

The Gideon Ministry came into being in keeping with the theme "Go ye into the utter most parts of the world and spread the good news." It had it's origin in 1899 in Natshville, USA and has spread to 188 countries.

It was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1961, with the odd camp or two as an affiliate of the parent body with its headquarters in USA.

Sri Lanka in those earlier years, did not have the qualifying number of 20 camps to warrant the holding of a convention here, but through the years the Gideon Ministry has grown sufficiently to have 24 camps around Sri Lanka to be responsible for the distribution and placement of Bibles free of charge to those who are truly in need of them.

It might be mentioned that the national field co-ordinator for Sri Lanka, V. Ariyaratnam had recently the privilege of presenting a dignitary Bible to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Gideon Ministry here did make the right kind of impression to be regarded as an area to be eligible for holding of a convention here, and the envisaged convention for members of the 24 camps will be held on August 29 and 30 at the Berjaya Mount Royal Beach Hotel, Mt. Lavinia.

It is undoubtedly a historic occasion, since it is the first time, such an event is taking place in the 48 year old Gideon Ministry in Sri Lanka.

An elaborate convention has been planned and arranged for the two days with Jim J.J. Lou the International Regional Director Region 7 as the International representative.

Moratuwa Lions Club office-bearers

President: Lion Cdr. Tissa Goonetilleka, Immediate Past President and Tale

Twister: Lion Deshapriya Visundara, 1st Vice President: Lion Palitha Bandara, 2nd

Vice President: Lion Sanjaya Silva, 3rd Vice President: Lion Kamal Fernando, Secretary Lion Neil Hettiarachchi, Assistant Secretary: Lion Supem Peiris, Treasurer: Lion Wickremasekera Bowalgaha,

Lion Tamer: Lion Michael Fernando, Chairman Membership

Committe: P.C.C. Lion Dayantha Fernando, Chairman L/Ladies Committee: P.D.G. Lion Oswin Silva, Leo Advisor: Lion Priyalal De Silva.

Directors: Lions Christy Fernando, Henricus Fernando, Pastor Ranjan Fernando, L.S. Perera, Srimaal Amarasuriya, Gladwyn Fernando, Keerthi Godigamuwa, Nalin Wijeratne.

Co-opted members: Lions I.G.K. Bandula, Sam Fernando