News in brief

Boats and fishing gear donated to tsunami affected fishermen

On an initiative of the Southern Province Governor Kingsley T. Wickremaratne, an Organization called AIDER which is an Agency of the Municipality NICE, France donated boats and a stock of fishing gear worth Rs. 1.2 million. The items were distributed with the Governor's participation, among the fishermen of the village of Morampitagoda, Galle at a ceremony held at the Governor's Office in Galle with the participation of Chandima Weerakkody, the Chairman, SDA, and SPC Member Nissantha Muthuhettigamage.

The French team who arranged this donation was active in the Habaraduwa area helping the affected people. They also built 15 houses in the area.

While they were working in the Moneragampitiya Village, Galle, the team had an opportunity to meet H.E., the President too and discussed their project details with Her Excellency and promised to visit again to help in the development of the village. The French team was coordinated by Junior Chamber International Chapter in NICE France with the Junior Chamber International Members of the Dehiwala Chapter.

Lions of District 306 A to provide more tsunami relief

Lion Paddy Vithana, District Governor of Lions of District 306 'A' had initiated a fund to help the bereaved families of two Lions, one Lion Lady and 4 children who lost lives following the tsunami tidal waves on December 26 last year and help 15 of Lion members who were affected.

He appealed to all Lion members in the District 306 'A' to contribute to the fund. All donations could be forwarded to the Cabinet Treasurer, Lions Club District 306 'A', Colombo.

Meanwhile the District 306 A has received an emergency grant of US $ 10,000 from LCIF and a further US $ 100,000 has been pledged by the Danish Lions.

The District Governor Lion Paddy Vithana had contacted all the Governors of the developed countries for possible assistance.

Lion Rohantha de Fonseka Zone Chairman of the Alubomulla Lions Club has been appointed as the District Co-ordinator of Disaster Relief. Lion Sterling Fernando has been appointed as Coordinator of the Relief Programme.

The Lions Club District 306 'A' has decided to construct 10 houses at Panadura, 10 houses at Paiyagala, 25 houses at Hikkaduwa, 15 houses at Galle, 15 houses at Matara and 10 houses at Ambalantota. Allocation per house is Rs. 100,000.

Lions Clubs in the Districts pledged full support to the housing programs initiated by the Governor Paddy Vithana. The District 306 'A' Lions Club also planning to provide a complete package containing stationery and other essentials to around two hundred deserving children from each region in the availability of funds.

Success Sri Lanka to help tsunami affected schoolchildren

The Secretariat for the upliftment and conservation of cultural educational and social standards of Sri Lanka "Success", an approved charity, gazetted as a charity organisation on 7th April 1995, inaugurated 12 years ago in Kandy has specifically directed their attention on the tsunami affected children who were displaced and lost one or both parents.'

As a supportive arm "Success" has decided to offer its services by establishing a scholarship fund for the benefit of these children. The scholarship programme will continue as an uninterrupted project for a minimum period of 2 years. Children receiving education at year 12 will be selected after calling for applications through the school principals.

Granting of financial assistance will commence in April 2005 and will continue until the child completes G.C.E. A level.

The scholarship will be offered to selected children from the adversely affected areas. Each student will be offered Rs. 1,000 as monthly expenses and a sponsor is allocated to him or her. The responsibility of regularly informing the sponsor with regard to the progress made by the recipient will be taken by the Subcommittee handling the project. A Bank account named "Success Tsunami Childern's Fund" A.C. No. 1650129384 has been opened at the People's Bank, Dalada Veediya, Kandy.

A Savings Account will be opened at the local Bank in each recipients named and the Rs. 1,000 will be deposited in this account monthly.

The sponsors are kindly requested to direct their donations to the above Bank by a standing order monthly, biannually or annually or by a crossed cheque and to post it to Hony. President, Success Tsunami Children's Project, 2 A Sangaraja Mawatha Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The sponsors living abroad may contribute the equivalent amount in Sterling Pounds or Dollars. The Hony. President of Success Sri Lanka is Dr. (Mrs) Shirani Jayasinghe.

Help save her life

R. Chandra Manel (36) of 71, Dorawela in Balangoda is suffering from an acute Kidney failure. A kidney transplant is recommended by Prof. Saruj. Jayasinghe of the Colombo National Hospital to save her life. For this she needs B Positive kidney. Her husband N. N. Sunil Handapangoda is a temporary watcher at the Balangoda UC and has to spend on two school-going children too.

He says the cost of surgery is said to be more than Rs. 300,000 to save his wife's life. According to the present economic plight of the family he is unable to foot this bill. He requests donors and general public to assist his wife's cause by sending whatever financial contribution possible.

All contributions should be remitted to A/C No. 956 at the Rural Bank, Balangoda. For further details contact 0452286505.

Help save a life

M. M. Hamjad (30) of 65/4, Zahira College Road, Dharga Town is suffering from an acute heart ailment. Consultant Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals Dr. K. Prasad has recommended urgent heart surgery to save his life.

The surgery is estimated to cost Rs. 380,000. Hamjad's family says that they are unable to foot this bill, due to their financial plight. They request philanthropists and the general public to assist Hamjad's cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to help expedite the surgery.

All contributions should be remitted to M. M. Hamjad's account No: 1-017384-8 at the Bank of Ceylon, Dharga Town branch.