Bharatha Natyam competition by Kaluwanchikudy Town Leo Club

Lions Clubs set up Leo Clubs with the objective of providing the youth with an opportunity for development and contribute, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national and international community.

Lions Club of Kaluwanchikudy Town was proud to present their Leo Club’s programme, which recognized and encouraged schools to showcase the talents of their students under District Governor Lion Dr. Priyanka Baddevithana’s mission to establish “Leo - Friendly Schools”.

The award ceremony for winners of the Bharatha Natyam competition was held in Kaluwanchikudy, Cultural Centre on February 9 where the Chief Guest was the District Governor accompanied by First Lady Lion Lalani Baddevithana and International Director Lion Asoka de Z. Gunasekera.

Lion Dr. Priyanka Baddevithana commended the Leo Advisor from Lions Club of Kaluwanchikudy Lion Pirthapahan for guiding the youth properly challenging decadence that plagues aesthetics in our society.

Bharatha Natyam is one of the oldest dance forms of India. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times.

The art was handed down as a living tradition from generation to generation under the Devadasi system under which women were dedicated to temples to serve the deity as dancers and musicians forming part of the elaborate rituals.

These highly talented artists and the male gurus (nattuvanars) were the sole repository of the art until the early 20th century when a renewal of interest in India’s cultural heritage prompted the educated elite to discover its beauty.

The revival of Bharatha Natyam by pioneers such as E Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale brought the dance out of the temple precincts and onto the proscenium stage though it retained its essential devotional character. Today Bharata Natyam is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles in the world.

306B2 Lions construct Bo-Maluwa and Budu-Medura

Lions Club of Colombo Sommerset and Lions Club of Kurunegala, jointly constructed a Bo-Maluwa and Budu-Medura at the Pangolla, Ibbagamuwa Army Camp.

Below the Bo-Maluwa and Budu-Medura being declared open by District Governor, 306B2, Lion Mahesh Pasqual. Also present from left Vice District Governor, P. Jeyarajan, Project Chairman, Lion Lalith Hewage, Major Sulochana Illangakoon, Lion Rabindra de Alwis, Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Nihal Samarakone, President, Colombo Sommerset Lions Club, Lion Lady Shalini Senanayake, Ex. Sgt. Major Soysa, and Ariya Rekawa, Advisor to the District Governor 306B2.

Melvin Jones Fellowship Nite

Lions clubs International District 306 B1 celebrated the Melvin Jones Nite at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, Hendala, Wattala amidst a large gathering of Lions from Sri Lanka and Korea.

The Chief Guest was Governor S. Reghavan MJF accompanied by Lion Lady Ranjini and the Guest of Honour was District Governor 354 B Korea Yoo Jai-Suk MJF, accompanied by Lion lady Kim Sook -Hee

The highlight of the day was recognizing the new MJFs consisting of four two diamond yellow gold pin MJFs, one diamond yellow gold pin MJF, 18 new MJF fellows two contributing MJFs and one Progressive MJF. Totalling 26.

Funds contributed to the Lions Clubs international Foundation (LCIF) will be channelled to humanitarian projects worldwide and LCIF has been identified as the best NGO worldwide.

Past International Director Chuck Wijenathen in a meaningful ceremony with the theme “Philosophy to Serve” reminded the Lions about the basics and the International Board Appointee Sunil Watawala recognized all Melvin Jones fellows in a fitting manner giving due recognition to contributing levels.

Everybody appreciated the well-planned meeting, fellowship and took away pleasant memories along with a photograph as a souvenir.

Address by District Governor - Lion S. Raghavan MJF

We dedicate this day to our humble, courageous Founder, a visionary who exemplified how leadership is a choice and not a position. Many of us may think that the Melvin Jones Night is function only to remember our great founder leader Melvin Jones but it is not so and it doesn’t end with it.

While remembering our great founder, this provides us an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the cause of Lionism and that can be considered the best tribute we can pay to him.

That was the sacred ceremony we witnessed, beautifully conducted by our respected PID Chuck this evening. Many of you may not be aware that it was PID Chuck who conceived this idea of having this function in our calendar few years ago. Even the emblem in my logo that we wear, constantly reminds us of the oath we took raising our right hand when we joined Lionsim.

This is also a function to honour and respect those great lions who have contributed to become MJFs. Today we saw Board Appointee Lion Sunil Watawala performing this solemn duty to recognize them in a fitting manner. Again this is a function to enthuse and motivate more and more members to contribute towards this worthy cause and become MJFs. This also provides an opportunity to develop international understanding and work together. That is why our brothers and sisters from Korea are here with us. Whenever and whenever a calamity occurs we as lions rally round and offer assistance without looking at any borders to barriers. I wish to remind our Lions at this state how our brother Lions from Korea came to our assistance when we were affected by tsunami. This also gives us the opportunity we deserve, to enjoy fellowship and develop camaraderie among us to improve the health of our organization.

I congratulate all the 26 lion members who have taken a bold step and a principle centred decision to contribute and become MJFs this year at a time when we are going through a crisis in this country with the economic situation deteriorating and consequently the cost of living and the inflation going up. I quite understand the sacrifices they had to make to contribute this huge amount and we salute them. Special mention must be made and recognition given to the seven lions from the north who had become MJFs now at a time great calamity is going on in that part of our country. It is very unfortunate that many of them even could not be present here to be recognized due to security concerns and travel restrictions.

306B2 Lions build Kid Care Home and Resident School at Ragama

Request for helping hand:

The International Association of Lions Club, District 306B2 has built a Home for Street Children “Kid Care Home and Resident School” at Ragama for children under the age of 10 years, which is now ready for occupation.

They are calling foster parents to spend a nominal amount of Rs. 3,500 per month. They can be either a known party or they can have them as their adopted children.

“We the Lions have come to the aid of these poor children who have no homes, no parents and extremely poor with a single parent (mother). We have built a Resident School for them, well equipped with all facilities to give them equal opportunities” says Lion Graetian Gunawardhana, Chairman Board of Trustees, Kid Care Home and Resident School, and Past District Governor, 306B2.

Lion Gunawardhana says that they need assistance from those who would like to be their foster parents for 250 such children. “You could help them to be better citizens. We who can afford must reach out today” says Lion Gunawardhana.

Please write in if you wish to help, to Lion Graetian Gunawardhana, Chairman Board of Trustees, Kid Care Home and Resident School, and Past District Governor 306B2, No. 9, Ramya Road, Colombo 4.

E-mail: gg@handsgroup.com, Tel: 2593386, Fax: 2581281

Y’s men’s club of Mahanuwara

Y’s Men’s International is a Service Club in association with the YMCA movement. It is a service oriented organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Kandy/Mahanuwara Club was started about 45 years ago.

The Club has carried out many social service projects in the Kandy District. One Village Development project at Guru Oya, won a citation from the Y’s Men’s International President. That project was carried on from 1971 till that village was submerged in the Mahaveli Project.

Presently the club is engaged in a Village Development Project at Moragolle Regular Health clinics, both curative as well as health and nutrition education, are being conducted since the past two years.

This Health Service is being conducted by Prof Herbert Aponso, with the assistance of four other doctors, and a team of nurse-aides, and club members.

Ranjith de Silva (Head of Govi Seva Sevana, a National Agricultural Training Institute at Nilambe) and his team is engaged in promoting an Agricultural Project, which includes Agriculture Education, Compost Making, Mushroom Cultivation, etc.

The Jak Project is based on the training received at the Jak Centre at Rambukkana, which had been started a few years ago by Milton Illangatilleke. A vast array of products from Jak, such as Jak flour, Jak noodles, Jak “taste” packets, Jak wade (like Masalawade), Jak cordial (bottled like the many other fruit cordials), and many others are being manufactured and sold both locally and abroad. The people at Moragolle have started making these Jak preparations, and our club is keen to help them in the marketing of the products.

The club raises funds for all these activities through various fund raising programmes.

Golden Jubilee essay contest

Sarath Malalasekera

The International Association of Lions Clubs-District 306-A2 conducted their annual essay competition on Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse which was held at the Dharmavijaya Foundation Auditorium at Sara Road, Colombo 7 for the 16th year.

This year the Golden Jubilee year of Lionism in Sri Lanka is celebrated with our own highly respected Lion Leader Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya MJF at the helm of the Lions Clubs International as it’s International President.

Three winners in each medium received cash prizes. Winner Rs.10,000, first runners-up Rs.5,000 and second runners-up Rs.2,500, on each topic in addition to beautiful trophies and certificates,” said Lion S. Ramachandran MJF, the co-ordinator of the essay contest program.

First three schools from which most number of entries are received too will get gift vouchers to purchase books or sports material.

Sri Lanka Federation of Non-Government Organisations Against Drug Abuse (SLFONGOADA) and the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in November are extending their fullest Co-operation and assistance to the Lions Clubs of Dehiwela North which is sponsoring this programme to make this Golden Jubilee year contest a great success.

District Governor visits Lions Club of Colombo West

District Governor 306 A2 Kamal Seniveratna made his office visit to Lions Club of Colombo West. During his visit Ahamed Hassen Razak was inducted as a member of Lions Club of Colombo West by P.D.G. Neil Seniveratna.

From left Lion Ashroff Hussain Immediate Past President District Governor Kamal Seniveratna handing over the membership kit to Ahamed Hassen Razak. Also in the picture is Past District Governor Neil Seniveratna.