Club News

Rotary eradicates polio from Sri Lanka

Text & Pix Beverley Jansz

Rotary International, the world’s first service club organization, is made up of 30,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas of more than 1.2 million members. Its members form a global network of business, professional and community leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

In 1985 Rotary announced a polio-plus program to immunize all the children of the world against polio. Thanks to Rotary, Sri Lanka is now polio-free.

These sentiments were expressed by President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. P. Rajathurai delivering his keynote address at a ceremony held at Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya to donate 35 wheel chairs to needy people of Nuwara Eliya.

Assistant Indian High Commissioner, R.K. Mishra was the Chief Guest while Past President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. Dharshan John was the guest of honour.

Rtn. P. Rajathurai said that the polio plus program provides funding for mass immunisation campaigns. Rotarians have raised funds amounting to more than 1.2 billion US dollars in support by the time polio is eradicated from the world. Due to Rotary’s timely actions, two billion children under the age of 5 years have received the polio vaccine.

Five million people who might otherwise be paralyzed, are walking today, 500,000 new cases of polio are prevented each year and the number of polio cases had declined to 99%. Worldwide, President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya, Rtn. P. Rajathurai said.

He said that last year Bill Gates Foundation, the owner of Microsoft granted US dollars 200 million towards the polio eradication program of Rotary.

“We are all aware that when tsunami hit the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and almost disturbed and crippled the civilian life, Rotary International came forward to construct nearly 22 schools with modern facilities within just 36 months which was considered as a pilot project which paved the way to 19,000 students who are living in the coastal areas from Mullaitivu to Kalutara, to go back to school. In the recent past Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya helped over 300 cataract operations, put up toilets to the schools, provided pure drinking water facilities to schoolchildren and villagers, donated wheelchairs to the needy, sponsored several exams for year five scholarship students with the help of Nuwara Eliya and Walapane Zonal Education Departments.

This year we have planned to focus our service in the field of health sector, helping to uplift literacy, provide clean water and conduct career guidance seminars for school leavers, Rtn. Rajathurai said.

‘You may ask what Rotary has done to the world? With great respect it is my duty to mention that Rotary has done several impossible service projects to the world as well as to Sri Lanka, Rtn. P. Rajathurai said.

Chief guest, Assistant Indian High Commissioner, R.K. Mishra said that he was happy to note the enormous number of service projects done by the Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya.

The donation of 35 valuable wheelchairs to the needy is yet another great service of the Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya.

Past President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. Dharshan John said that the Club had carried major service projects.

The school re-awakening program where tsunami affected schools were rebuilt, spending large sums of money.

The Sri Lanka Rotary District - 3220 has rebuilt 22 tsunami affected schools with all modern facilities with in a very short period of time of three years.

This was the single largest project ever handled by a Rotary District, PP, Rtn. Dharshan John said. President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. P. Rajathurai and PP Dharsha John paid a glowing tribute to Chairman of the project, Assistant Governor, Rtn. V. Athimoolan for the excellent job done for the donation of 35 wheelchairs to the needy of Nuwara Eliya. Rtn. V. Athimoolan was congratulated amidst a round of applause.

The hard work done by Rtn. Chandrasekaran, Chairperson, Club Administration and Rtn. P. Mageswaran Chairperson, Service Projects was also highly appreciated by President, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. P. Rajathurai. Secretary, Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya Rtn. R. Satheesh delivered the vote of thanks. The welcome address was delivered by Rtn. Uchitha S. Bandara while the event was compered by Rtn. V. Yogarajah (Youth Advisor) of the club.

Lions Club of Mahabage PIP Mahendra Amarasuriya inaugurated

Charter Presentation ceremony of Lions Club of Mahabage PIP Mahendra Amrasuriya was held at YMCA International Centre, Kurana. Chief Guest for the occasion was Past International President, Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya accompanied by Lion Kushlani and Guest of Honour was District Governor Lakshman Wijesinghe and First Lady Dr. Anoma. Present and Past Leaders of Lionism, cabinet officers, Lions, Lion Ladies and Leos attended the meeting.

The Donation of Library equipments to the librarian of Kandana Public library, Donation of a wheel chair to an Arthritis patient in Ekala and the handing over of Mahogani saplings to Lion Dr. Sunimal Jayakody of Kandana District hospital to mark the annual observance tree planting month, donation of Rs. 15,000 to build two toilets to deserving families in Kandana and Batagama, was made by Project coordinator Lion Shirantha Amarasekera

The meeting was called to order by Charter chairperson PDG Sarath Gunasekera. followed by Pleadge of allegiance by Lion George Wijeratne. The dignitaries at the head table was introduced by Lion Anne Gunasekera.

PDG Sarath in his welcome speech recognised each and every member who attended the ceremony and thanked Lions Clubs of Negombo Metro and Mabole for jointly sponsoring the Lions Club of Mahabage PIP Mahendra Amrasuriya, the only lions club dedicated to the first Lions Internationals President from Sri Lanka Lion Mahendra Amrasuriya for his unparalleled services as International President in 2007/08. The most significant item of the agenda was the presentation of charter certificate to the charter President Lion Roshni, the charter certificate was brought and given to the chart chairman by the President of Lions Club of Negombo Metro Lion Frankly Sosa and it was presented by PIP Mahendra Amarasuriya to Charter President Lion Roshni in the presence of DG Lakshman.

The recognition of the charter members of Lions club of Mahabage PIP Mahendra Amarasuriya was done by PDG S. Sivapathasuntharam.

The charter cake was cut by Lion Roshni and spouse Lion Ignatius, followed by the recognition of MJF’s done by the endorsed candidate for the office of International director PCC Sunil Watawala.

The proceedings were handed over to President and in her welcome speech, she thanked the members of her club for placing confidence in her and electing her as Charter president and her future plans and program of work for the fiscal year 2009/10.

Lion Anne as chairperson of special projects, out lined the projects carried out at IDP camps in Cheddikulam, Vavuniya and Mannar hospital.

Distribution of Nutritional supplements which received from Kelogris foundation USA, clothes and essential utensils. Planning of setting up a Vocational Training Centre in Vavuniya for widows and parentless children.

District Governor was introduced by Lion Lucille and in DG’s speech he thanked the club for inviting him and emphasized his five point program. He thanked the club for carrying out projects in IDP camps.

Batticaloa Lions mark Int’l White Cane Day

The Lions Club of Batticaloa and the “Dharisanam” school for visually handicapped jointly organized an event to mark International White Cane Day on the October

15 at the Batticaloa Town.

The highlight of the event was a White Cane Day procession with the participation of over 1,000 people representing several community groups including visually handicapped children, school children, NGO representatives, medical students nurses and Leos. The three wheeler association of Batticaloa organized a Three wheel parade in parallel to this walk.

The procession started from St. Michael’s College and reached the Hindu College Batticaloa where the meeting and the talent show of the visually handicapped children was held.

Chief Guest for the event was Past District Governor 306 C-2 Lion Lasantha Goonewardena, while the Guest of honour was Divisional Secretary Batticaloa Kalamathi Pathmarajah.

Director Teaching Hospital Batticaloa Dr. K. Murugananda, Regional Director of Health Services, Batticaloa Dr. S. Sathurmugam, President Lions Club of Batticaloa Lion Dr. A. Selvandron and many other invitees graced this occasion. In his inaugural address PDG Lion Lasantha Goonewardena highlighted that white cane is being used to identify the visually handicapped people and also it will help them to walk around without help from others.

While thanking the President and the Members of the Lions Club of Batticaloa PDG Lion Lasantha emphasised that after 30 years of long suffering war and the Tsunami more people became handicapped and it is our duty to look after them and make them comfortable. He further said ‘we no more call them as disabled people but we called them differently abled people’.

Because through they are visually handicapped they have many challenges, where others do not have. Classic example was the talent show that we have seen today, PDG Lasantha Goonewardana said.

Cabinet Secretary Lion Lasantha Perera donated 100 pairs of brand new spectacles to the Lions Club of Batticaloa to distribute among the needy children while PDG Lion Lasantha donated five white canes to the children of “Dharisanam” school for visually handicapped.

BJ

Mahalwarawa Lions ‘Peduru Party’ on Oct 24 for housing project

A ‘Peduru Party’ a musical extravaganza organized by the Lions Club of Mahalwarawa for a housing project for the poor, will take place on Saturday October 24 at 7 p.m., at Camilla school hall Mattegoda, Kottawa.

The program has been organised as a fund-raiser for a housing project for poor families, President, Mahalwarawa Lions Club, Lion Dr. Harsha Aluthge said.

A host of popular artists including Senanayake Weraliyadda, Ishak Beigh, Chandrasena Hettiarachchi, Priyankara Perera and many more are on the cards to entertain guests.

District Governor, 306 C-2, Lion Nimal Bulasthsinhala Past District Governor, Lion Lasantha Goonewardhana will be the chief guests. The organisers, invite all Lions and their families to participate at this ‘Peduru Party’ as it is a fund-raiser for a worthy cause.

Tickets and further information can be obtained from District Cabinet officer Lion Dhammika Priyantha on telephone No. 077-3723842