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Compiled by Beverley Jansz
Honour to Sri Lanka:
Lion Mahendra leading the 'pride'
What appears to be a fairy tale, but true, yet almost unbelievable, a
lion from this tiny emerald island reached the pinnacle of the
International Lions movement, when on July 6 our own lion, Lion Mahendra
Amarasuriya was inducted as the President of the Lions Clubs
International at a glittering ceremony in Chicago, USA, the same city
where it all began 90 years ago.
What a proud moment it was not only for Lions but to all Sri Lankans
as a nation, where one of our own Lions was elected to give leadership
to the world's largest service organization spread over 203 countries
with
a membership of over 1.3 million.
It is heartening to note, though small in size, Sri Lanka has a
membership over 11,500 lions in all six districts and ranks 19th among
the 203 member countries.
Fate has also decreed a Sri Lankan to be the International President
when we celebrate our Golden Jubilee of the 50th Anniversary of lionism
this year and unknown to many the International President himself will
mark 40 years of his lionistic career.
Lion Mahendra hails from a family of philanthropists, his father, the
late Thomas Amarasuriya played a key role in the Buddhist revival,
contributed towards the education in the country by building schools. He
was also a President of the Senate (now defunct).
A product of Royal College Colombo and a graduate of the University
of Ceylon, Lion Mahendra is the Chairman of the Commercial Bank of
Ceylon, rated as the best bank in Sri Lanka.
In an illustrious career spanning over forty years, he has held top
positions such as the Deputy Chairman of the Hayleys Group, Chairman,
United Motors Ltd, International Chamber of Commerce, Employers'
Federation of Ceylon, Employees' Trust Fund and also is a board member
of many other blue chip companies.
The Lanka Monthly Digest describes Mahendra Amarasuriya as someone
who "epitomizes an image which has become a rarity in the nation's
beleaguered business and political landscape - one in which
professionalism and ethics are paramount." Another business colleague
says "He has been successful primarily because his integrity is
unquestionable and he is honest to a fault."
Forty years ago lionism in Sri Lanka was still in its infancy, with
only a few clubs in Colombo and major outstation cities. It is around
this time in 1967 the Lions Club of Galle, the first Club in the south
was formed and Mahendra Amarasuriya joined as a Charter Member.
It did not take long for the leaders to see the potential in young
Mahendra and he was invited to serve in the Cabinets of several District
Governors.
In the year 1978/1979 District 306 A elected him as their Governor.
The exposure and experience he gained as a District Governor, the
acceptance and knowledge he acquired paved the way for him to enter the
International circuit for the lions movement.
He was elected as an International Director in 1991 being only the
second Sri Lankan Lion to be elected to this position after Lion Chuck
Wijenathan.
As an International Director opportunities were created for him to
visit many foreign countries and he chaired two area forums, in Pakistan
and Nairobi.
If getting a seat on the International Board was difficult,
especially for a small nation like Sri Lanka, International Presidency
looked a Himalayan task. But Mahendra Amarasuriya has conquered the peak
The Sri Lankan Flag is firmly placed at the top.
His theme this year is 'Challenge to Change' and has a vision to
re-brand lions clubs to be more relevant to the twenty first century.
Lion Merril Jayakody, District 306 C1
Rotary Club of Kandy donates 400 wheel chairs
The Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan Assisted by the Rotary Club of
Vaxholm Sweden undertook a project
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The 400 brand new Wheelchairs being displayed. |
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Lighting the traditional oil lamp are Chief Minister of Central
Province Sarath Ekanayake, President of Rotary Club of Kandy
Metropolitan Rtn. Joe Paiva, Community Service Director Rtn.
Timothy Paldano and Project Coordinator Rtn. Indra Wijeyatileke
are also in the picture. |
to provide 400 imported brand new wheelchairs to the needy. The total
cost of the project is over Rs. 4 million.
The project was coordinated by P.P. Rtn. Indra Wijeyatileke and
Community Service Directors Rtn Timothy Paldano and Rtn Ajith
Naranpanawe. The Chief Guest on this occasion was the Chief Minister of
Central Province Sarath Ekanayake and Guest of Honour Mayor L.B.
Aluvihare.
The distribution was held at Hotel Taurmaline Kandy. Representatives
from hospitals and other institutions which care for the aged and
disabled were also present.
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Rtn. Timothy Paldano and Rtn. Ajith Narampanawa as Community
Service Directors handing over the Wheel Chair to a disabled
person. Also in the picture is Rtn. Joe Paiva. |
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The Rotary Club of Colombo, along with the Rotaract Club of
Colombo and Rotaract Club of Regent plus Interactors from St.
Paul’s Milagiriya and Bishop’s College treated 50 children
brought down from the East Coast by the Army 23rd Division to a
day in Colombo. The children were taken to the Museum, the Zoo
and then to watch Spiderman III followed by dinner at the
Majestic City Food Court. Ceylon Theatres Ltd. provided the
tickets free to the children to watch Spiderman III. At the end
of the day the children were hard pressed to say what had been
the highlight of their day, with the votes divided between the
zoo and the movie. The children though tired were very happy
with their day in Colombo and had mixed feelings about going
back to their homes in Vakarai. |
The selection of recipients were carefully done by the committee of
Rotarians from Kandy metropolitan and the most deserving received the
valuable wheel chairs which could never have been purchased by these
needy people. It also brought tears of joy to most of the recipients as
well as the relatives, Community Service Director Timothy Paldano said.
The Rotary Club of Kandy metropolitan has undertaken many
humanitarian projects during the past six years and hope to do many more
in the future with Rotarian P.P. P.H.F. Joe Paiva taking over the
leadership for the second time.
His experience in the Rotary Movement for over 25 years serving the
less fortunate people will see more service projects, in the future.
Kegalle District Rotary Clubsupplies potable water to remote school
B. W. Eheliyagoda, Kegalle special correspondent
Kegalle District Rotary Club members on a recent decision of its
membership, embarked on a public utility programme and supplied potable
water to a remote school in the suburb of Kegalle town, where motorable
access is somewhat difficult though the locality is in the precinct of
Kegalle town.
The school is Pussella Maha Vidyalaya situated on a hilly terrain
where water to this school for over thousand
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In the picture is Rotary Club Assistant Governor R. B.
Bunnahayake declaring open the water project for the students
and staff of Kg/Pussella Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle. |
children had to be procured from a well in a lower terrain for
all purposes. Majority of the students attending this school are from
poor families of most exist on the hand of assistance extended to their
households through the provision of 'Samurdhi' allowances.
The Kegalle Rotary Club discovering the plight of the poor innocent
students took immediate action to repair an abandoned large well in the
premises of the relevant schoolyard to supply adequate water to the
school for all essential purposes.
The Rotarians after renovating the well, constructed a 'water tower'
and got pipes laid to provide sufficient water to school at all times.
This project of water supply to Pussella Maha Vidyalaya (Kegalle)
became a reality in July this year when the Rotary Club Assistant
Governor R. B. Bunnahayake in the Company of Rotarians, the public and
the parents of students declared open the new water supply project.
Past President, Rotarian Tissa Wickramasinghe, the incumbent
president Sujeewa Mudalige, treasurer Kamal Illangakoon and Secretary
Neville Pitawala were present at this opening ceremony of the school's
water project.
The Kegalle Rotary Club has spent a sum of almost one hundred
thousand rupees on this project rendering a valuable service to a
generation of innocent students.`
5th World Rotary Cricket Festival August 10-12
The International Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarian's (IFCR) of
RI District 3220 - Sri Lanka, will host the 5th World Rotary Cricket
Festival from August 10-12 in Colombo.
The World Rotary Cricket Festival is held once in every three years.
This year 14 Teams, with over 300 participants, from Australia,
England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka will
participate in this gala Rotary cricket festival.
Each team will play 4, 25 over matches on each of the 4 match days.
Matches will be played on the 13th, 14th, 16th & 17th August at the
Wesley, C.C.C., N.C.C. and S.S.C. Grounds.
All 300 participants will stay at the "Official Hotel" - Hilton
Hotel, Colombo. The Grand Opening Ceremony will be held on August 12
evening at the Galle Face Hotel. Featured speakers will include former
SL Cricket Captain Michael Tissera.
In cognisance of the magnitude of the event, the Sri Lanka Tourist
Board has magnanimously offered valuable support to ensure a most
enjoyable and memorable experience to all those attending the 5th WRCF.
The S.L.T.B. will also host the Gala Dinner & Spectacular
Entertainment on 14th August at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The special
Gift items given by each Team & select Cricket memorabilia from National
Cricketers will be auctioned and the proceeds will go towards purchasing
sports equipment for poor and needy schools.
15th August is a free day. Day tours are on offer to Kandy, Galle and
Dambulla by Utopia Vacations (Pvt) Ltd.
This is also an opportunity for the foreign Rotarians to make up and
experience a typical Rotary weekly meeting by attending a Rotary Club
meeting on this day. Sri Lanka cricket Captain Mahela Jayawardene will
be the Guest Speaker at one of these meetings.
On 17th August is the Gala Closing Ceremony at The Bay Leaf, Colombo
7. Featured speakers will include former SL Test opener Sidath Wettimuny.
We are grateful to the British Team for the generous donation of
US$2,000 to purchase cricket equipment that will benefit senior cricket
playing school children after the tournament.
Other Teams too have agreed to donate their cricket equipment.
IThe Cricket Festival also provides select Sri Lankan companies an
opportunity to showcase their products and services. Contact the
Convener of the 5th WRCF, DGE Nalin Fernando, email: nalin.fdo@gmail.com |
