March 03, Colombo (LNW): In response to significant escalations in food production expenses, the All-Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association (ACROA) has officially declared price adjustments for several popular menu items, effective as of last night.
Notably, the prices for a cup of plain tea have risen by Rs. 5, while a cup of milk tea now reflects an increase of Rs. 10.
Moreover, patrons can expect a Rs. 25 increment in the cost of a packet of rice and curry.
Similarly, the prices of popular dishes such as Kottu and Fried Rice have been raised by Rs. 50 each.
ACROA underscored its commitment to maintaining fair pricing standards and assures the public that corresponding concessions will be extended should there be any reductions in consumer goods prices.
March 03, Colombo (LNW): A group of individuals pivotal in the advancement of the local newspaper ‘Ravaya’ has issued a letter of demand indicating their intent to pursue legal recourse regarding attempts to cease the printing operations of Ravaya, published by Ravaya (Guarantee) Pvt. Ltd., and to liquidate its assets.
Prominent figures within Sri Lanka, instrumental in the progression of Ravaya, are poised as plaintiffs in this forthcoming litigation.
The defendants in this case include the newspaper’s chairman, esteemed senior journalist Victor Ivan, the current board of directors, and editor-in-chief Wimalanath Weeraratne, among others.
The legal action is predicated on safeguarding the rights of 476 individuals who contributed significantly to Ravaya’s evolution during the 2013/2014 period.
The plaintiffs assert that the defendants’ alleged breach of trust agreement, pertaining to the advancement of Ravaya’s publication standards, necessitates the pursuit of legal remedies.
March 03, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has expressed profound concern over the tragic loss of over one hundred lives among those awaiting aid in Gaza and has added its voice to the demand for a thorough investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Saturday (02), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the urgent necessity to terminate the blockade imposed on Gaza, which has severely constrained its civilian populace, including women and children, from accessing essential provisions such as food, water, medication, electricity, and fuel.
Emphasising its stance for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian passage to Gaza to alleviate the plight of civilians, Sri Lanka reiterated its call.
Moreover, the Foreign Affairs Ministry disclosed that the Sri Lankan Government has sanctioned the establishment of the “Children of Gaza Fund,” an empathetic initiative proposed by the President, aimed at extending assistance to Gaza’s victims.
Additionally, Sri Lanka has committed to donate USD one million through UN agencies to offer vital support to Gaza’s victims.
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the global demand for a sustainable political resolution to the conflict and stresses the importance of establishing an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders as outlined in relevant UN resolutions.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka emphasises the significance of ensuring Israel’s security, as articulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
March 03, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Kalutara, Ratnapura, Nuwara-eliya, Galle and Matara districts in the evening or night, and mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere in the island, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (03).
The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise the damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the sea areas extending from Kalutara to Matara via Galle in the evening or night.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Colombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and from Matara to Potuvil via Hambantota can be fairly rough at times.
March 02, Colombo (LNW): The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka yesterday announced the opening ceremony of the One Stop Centre (OSC) at the District General Hospital in Kilinochchi.
The One Stop Centre is a ground-breaking initiative introducing a new service delivery model in Sri Lanka, offering comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, support for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Family Planning Services (FP) all under one roof. The OSC in Kilinochchi also provides essential psychosocial, medical, and legal support for survivors of GBV. This transformative approach is a result of the collaborative efforts between UNFPA Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health, and World Vision Sri Lanka, with generous support from the Government of Norway.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed guests including the visiting UNFPA Regional Director of Asia Pacific Pio Smith, UNFPA Sri Lanka Representative Kunle Adeniyi, representatives from the Embassy of Norway, as well as local health authorities including the Provincial Director of Health Services (PDHS) Northern Province and the Regional Director of Health Services Kilinochchi.
“The holistic nature of the One-Stop Centre acknowledges the intersectionality of the challenges marginalised women and girls face. By consolidating essential services, we aim to create a supportive environment where women can seamlessly access a range of vital resources,” said UNFPA Regional Director of Asia and the Pacific Pio Smith.
The One Stop Centre in Kilinochchi symbolises a significant milestone in UNFPA’s commitment to providing integrated SRH and GBV services within regional healthcare facilities. It represents a collaborative effort to address the diverse and complex needs of women and girls in the region, under one location.
The UNFPA Sri Lanka extends sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health, the District General Hospital of Kilinochchi, and World Vision for their invaluable collaboration and support in establishing the One Stop Centre.
Members of the media are cordially invited to attend and cover the opening ceremony of the One Stop Centre in Kilinochchi.
March 02, Colombo (LNW): The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka successfully conducted a session on strengthening bilateral trade opportunities between Sri Lanka and Indonesia with the gracious presence of the Ambassador of Indonesia recently.
Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing enlightened the session with her presence as the guest speaker, accompanied by a team of officials from the Embassy of Indonesia in Sri Lanka, Minister Counsellor in Economic Section I Fiki Oktanio and Minister Counsellor in Economic Section II Lailal Khairiyah Yuniarti.
The session marked an important milestone in fostering economic ties and cooperation between the two nations to connect with the business community in Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Jakarta Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and second Secretary (Commercial) Heshani Kaushalya connected virtually.
Ambassador Colombage addressed the gathering and provided an overview of the market conditions and potential sectors to captivate in Indonesia during the bilateral session.
The National Chamber President Deepal Nelson delivered his opening remarks welcoming the dignitaries and emphasised the objective of this session to support the business community who strive to grow amidst the economic calamity that the country has experienced in the recent past. Special invitees attended the session representing Export Development Board (EDB), Board of Investment (BOI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka, media agencies and most importantly the leaders representing the business community.
The Indonesian Ambassador made a presentation on ‘Current status of Bilateral trade, potential market opportunities in Indonesia’, elaborating the need for strengthening economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Valuable information on trade, investment and opportunities for export/import were discussed. The participants were able to freely interact with the Ambassador and her officials and discuss possibilities with regard to trade & investments in Indonesia during the Q&A session.
The National Chamber intends to conduct follow up sessions with the intention of developing business connections between the two countries.
March 02, Colombo (LNW): Indian government authorities have expressed a keen interest in supporting the development of Sri Lanka’s component manufacturing industry.
Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) delegation and Indian officials held discussion on strategies to enhance automobile and spare parts trade, including the exploration of trading in Indian Rupees (INR) and the establishment of a robust component manufacturing ecosystem with India’s support.
Deliberations also encompassed the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), highlighting its potential to significantly benefit Sri Lanka’s automotive industry.
The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) recently received an invitation from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex national body representing vehicles and vehicular manufacture in India, to discuss ways to revive Sri Lanka’s automotive sector.
CMTA Chairman Charka Perera and Senior Vice Chairman Virann de Zoysa met with key SIAM representatives, including Executive Director Atanu Ganguli and SIAM Policy Advocacy Executive Officer Pooja Nagpal.
A highlight of the visit were the discussions with senior officials of the Indian Government, underscoring the commitment to fostering bilateral relations in the automotive sector. Notable among these meetings were discussions with Ministry of commerce and Industry Additional Secretary Anant Swarup and Deputy Secretary Jyoti Yadav, along with Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Indian Ocean Region Division Director Ramkumar C. Swarup Central to the discussions held with the CMTA
The CMTA also engaged in discussions about the component manufacturing industry. Given India’s prowess in this domain, discussions revolved around leveraging India’s expertise to bolster Sri Lanka’s component manufacturing infrastructure. Talks centred around India’s commitment to providing support in terms of procurement, training, and technology transfer to kickstart this vital industry.
The invitation from SIAM underscores the importance of collaboration in reigniting automotive trade between the two countries. The engagement has provided valuable insights into avenues for collaboration and revitalising Sri Lanka’s automotive industry.
As Sri Lanka looks ahead, partnerships forged during this visit are expected to drive much needed growth and innovation in the automotive sector.
March 02, Colombo (LNW): The Government has directed the Legal Draftsman to draft the Bill of the Public Finance Management Act, based on the fundamental draft that has been prepared in this regard.
Additionally, powers have been entrusted to the Treasury Secretary to appoint a specialist committee to initiate the formulation of financial regulations. The committee will facilitate the process till the Legal Draftsmen finalise the proposed draft Bill.
“The proposed Piblic Financial Management Act is expected to streamline financial processes, mitigate risks and strengthen fiscal discipline across Government agencies,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing
On 8 May 2023 Cabinet approved to draft a new framework of financial rules and to include those rules in the proposed State Financial Management Act.
The relevant bill is being finalised with the aim of improving the responsible fiscal management process when dealing with public finances and to take substantial decisions based on efficient resource utilisation.
The government has taken this decision in accordance with the recommendation made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on enhancing budget formulation and the fiscal framework
The proposed Act will strengthen transparent financial systems and effective performance management by giving freedom to officials to manage public finance efficiently and making them accountable for their responsible projects, relevant cabinet memorandum revealed.
It will have provisions to introduce reforms and modernise the accounting and reporting standards and making public sector accountability as a mandatory requirement.
The proposed Act will be repealing the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act No. 3 of 2003 ensuring new fiscal terms to take effect with the Budget 2025.
This original Act has stipulated three key fiscal limits to be achieved by specified timelines. Including restriction of the budget deficit from exceeding 5 percent of GDP from 2006 onward, requiring thel Government limit of 85 percent of GDP by the end of 2006.
It has prohibited the Government from exceeding 60 percent of GDP by the end of 2013 while setting limits on its contingent liabilities.
Nevertheless, the Government debt limit had been increased through an amendment to the Act in 2013. The initial limit set was increased to 80 percent from 60 percent in 2013 and the time frame for compliance was extended till 2020.
The Act was further amended to extend the debt limit of 80 percent of GDP till 2030 as the government has failed to stick to the time frame.
“The regular abuses of the Act and amendments to the Act to accommodate fiscal manipulations of relevant regimes resulted in the economic crisis,” the IMF report claimed.
Along with the implementation of provisions of the new act, a modern financial management system is to be implemented with the aim of controlling the Sri Lanka budget execution via line ministries and state institutions including statutory boards and corporations.
1 March 2024: A recent statement attributed to Prasanna Ranatunga, the Urban Development and Housing Minister of Sri Lanka, and publicised by the A5 News Facebook page prompted the drafting of this article. Whether Ranatunga’s statement was a misguided attempt to mislead the younger generation born post-1980 remains unclear. Many of them might be unaware of the role played by President J.R. Jayawardene’s regime during that period, which led to two insurrections, one by the JVP under the Desha Vimukthi Vyaparaya in the South, and a decades-long armed conflict in the North and East.
Politicians in Sri Lanka have a history of falsehoods during election campaigns, as evidenced by the vast disparities between their promises and actual outcomes. Year 2024 is said to be an election year and such false statements like in the past are commonly made to manipulate and deceive voters, a tactic not unique to Sri Lanka but prevalent worldwide, especially during election times.
Since gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has been controlled by three family clans: the Rajapaksas, Bandaranaikes, and Senanayakes, driven primarily by a thirst for power and economic interests. Their disregard for the rule of law, democratic practices, corruption, and incompetence have often been obscured by scapegoating. However, in 2022, this façade crumbled when the government had to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund to mitigate a severe economic crisis, exposing the true causes of the country’s woes.
Black July Riots of 1983
Black July marked a week-long pogrom against native Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, characterised by unprecedented efficiency in brutality. The catalyst was an ambush of Sinhalese troops by the LTTE (Tamil Tigers), resulting in 13 deaths. In retaliation, the army killed around sixty civilians, a fact often omitted in the South. Subsequently, mobs systematically targeted Tamil households and shops in Colombo, looting, burning properties, and inflicting violence on inhabitants. The death toll remains uncertain, ranging from government claims of around 300 to more credible estimates of up to 3,000.
Government’s Response
The government’s response to the riots was inadequate and callous. President Jayewardene showed indifference towards Tamil lives, and his government enacted measures that further marginalised Tamils, including the passage of the sixth amendment of the Constitution, which deprived them of elected representation. He infamously said at the time that Tamils should be taught a lesson.
The government scapegoated the opposition for the riots and banned political parties like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, and the Nava Sama Samaja Party. However, credible evidence suggests the involvement of UNP luminaries like Cyril Mathew. They also orchestrated the violence, particularly the burning of the Jaffna library in June 1981.
Personal Testimony
As General Secretary of the JVP at the time, I witnessed the organised assault on Tamils during Black July. The streets of Colombo were engulfed in violence and chaos, with armed mobs targeting Tamil-owned properties. Security forces stood by, allowing the atrocities to unfold.
While on my way home from the party office, I witnessed many incidents of savagery and brutality. I was stopped just in front of Ceylon Tyre Corporation, Kelaniya by some people armed with swords and iron bars. I was asked to say ‘Baldiya’ aloud and when I obliged, they knew I was Sinhalese and did not attack me. Yet, they decided to remove petrol from the car. Fortunately, someone recognised me and told others to let me go. The petrol tank was half-empty when I was asked to leave. There I witnessed the carnage and atrocities that characterised Black July. Rioters stopped lorries, looted all goods in them, moved all goods to other vehicles and set the lorries on fire, burning the passengers and drivers.
While I was on my way along Kiribathgoda Mawaramandiya road, a CTB service truck full of a gang brandishing swords and crowbars stopped me. They got down from the truck and came running towards me in droves scolding me in the filthiest language imaginable. They had assumed that I was a Tamil fleeing Colombo. I yelled back at them in Sinhala. They desisted and went back to their truck and proceeded towards Colombo. The next day, I saw the colossal damage these hordes of rioters had wrought on the city.
I went inquiring about our comrades of Tamil background who were living in Narahenpita, Maradana and Kotahena. Most of those houses had been attacked or burnt down. According to what I heard, people wearing security uniforms went from place-to-place encouraging people to take part in the violence. There had been credible reports of Buddhist monks carrying electoral lists for identifying properties that belonged to Tamils. They accompanied the rioters.
I was summarily arrested later while at home, put into solitary confinement, psychologically tortured but not charged with any offence; and then released after about six months of detention, when the habaes corpus application Chitra had filed was to be heard.
Some of the guilty
Dr Rajan Hoole presents his meticulous account in The Arrogance of Power: Myths, Decadence and Murder. There are other thorough investigations of this horrific episode in the country’s history. The evidence shows that several UNP luminaries played a major role in the ensuing pogrom. Foremost amongst them was Cyril Mathew. The trucks used to ferry the goons and the petrol used to ignite Tamil businesses came from the public corporations under the jurisdiction of his Ministry. Some others who either participated or turned a blind eye to the use of government property and employees under their control were:
• Mr R. Premadasa, who was Prime Minister at the time; he probably was not physically involved, but his power base was the lumpen elements in Pettah and its environs. They played a key role in the ensuing mayhem.
• Mr Siresena Cooray, Mayor of Colombo and a protégé of Premadasa who filled the Ceylon Transport Board with his thugs; and
• Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, (the Current President) at the time, Minister of Education and Youth Affairs. While there is no direct evidence of his involvement, his trusted assistant Gonawela Sunil and members of Sunil’s gang did participate.
However, no genuine reforms have ever been forthcoming and no perpetrators were brought before the court and prosecuted.
One of the most horrific and reprehensible incident was the killing of Tamil militants who were arrested and detained under the PTA. As Colombo was engulfed by violence and the law of the mob, around 400 Sinhalese prisoners in A3 ward of Welikada Prison armed with iron poles, wooden sticks, manna knives, axes, pointed iron sticks, broken chair legs and coils of wire attacked and opened the doors of wards B3 and D3 where Tamil political prisoners were detained. They hacked to death 35 unarmed Tamil prisoners The dead bodies including those of Kuttimani and Thangathurai were scattered all over the hall corridor, where they had been held. The blood lust of the attackers was not abated and they methodically went about to find those who were barely alive and beat them till they died.
The next day, on July 26th, prisoners Manikkathasan, Panagoda Maheswaran, Paranthan Rajan, Douglas Devananda (current Cabinet Minister) and Antoni Pillai Alagiri stressed to all others that if there were going to be another attack against them, they should prepare as much as possible thinking that it would be better to face it and die.
While the Tamil prisoners were trying to defend themselves with implements they could find, the security forces fired tear gas at them. When dust settled on July 26, 1983, the dead bodies of another 17 Tamil prisoners were found. Among those killed in the attack in Welikada Prison on the second day was Secretary of the Gandhiam Movement, Dr Somasundaram Rajasundaram. Not only those injured were not rushed to hospitals for treatment, but even those admitted to hospitals were reported to have not received proper treatment due to the ethnic bias of sone hospital staff.
It was obvious that this murderous attack inside the prison was well planned. It was reported that Sunil Perera alias Gonawala Sunil, a thug previously mentioned, who had been in prison for some time and released after receiving an amnesty offered by President Jayawardene, was also involved in this horrific attack. When questioned about the massacre of 53 Tamil political prisoners in Welikada Prison within two consecutive days, the then Prime Minister R. Premadasa evaded to respond by saying that ‘one Sinhalese prisoner has also died’ in the incident.
Conclusion
Why does a responsible minister make unvirtuous statements with no factual basis? The consequences of the Black July pogrom were catastrophic. It exacerbated ethnic tensions and paved the way for a protracted civil war. The JVP, unfairly blamed for the violence, intensified its activities, leading to further bloodshed. That is why, one should expose such statements and strongly condemn those.
Moving forward, Sri Lanka must learn from its past mistakes and strive for a more equitable society. This entails holding accountable those responsible for past atrocities, promoting transparency and the rule of law, and fostering unity and reconciliation among its diverse populace.
Sri Lanka’s future hinges on its ability to confront its past and embrace a path towards peace, justice, and prosperity for all its citizens. We must not let the sins of the past dictate our future. Instead, let us forge ahead with wisdom and unity, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.
The Speech made by Dr. Lionel Bopage at an Afternoon Tea Party held at the Huntingdale Community Hall in Victoria, organised by the Sri Lankan Australians Inc.
Dr. Lionel Bopage (Melbourne, Australia)
Greetings, Dear friends, and a warm good afternoon to all of you.
Today, I am speaking on behalf of Sri Lankan Australians, a recently formed association with a vision of unity among Sri Lankan expatriates residing in Australia. Our aim is to foster inclusivity, transcending the barriers that often divide communities, by embracing and valuing our differences. We recognise that cultural diversity not only entails tõlerance but also celebrates the invaluable contributions that diversity offers, enriching us all in the process.
Our endeavours have been marked by numerous successful initiatives. In Canberra, we spearheaded various collective events, including multicultural and interfaith gatherings. One such event, “Unity In Diversity,” united communities from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Fiji during the National Multicultural Festival. Additionally, amidst the devastating bushfires of 2003, we organized a highly successful fundraising event, rallying together Sri Lankan residents of Canberra.
In Victoria, our collaborative efforts have been equally impactful. Following the catastrophic floods and landslides in Sri Lanka in May 2017, we mobilised resources to support Dudley Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya in Pitabeddara, Dehigaspe, Morawaka, Matara. Overcoming logistical challenges, we ensured that our contributions directly benefited the school, amounting to $ 8,285 and donating LKR 1,086,306.
Our commitment to transparency and accountability was unwavering, evidenced by stringent accountability measures and on-site monitoring of project progress. This collective endeavour exemplified the unity of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, and Burgher expatriates in Victoria.
Subsequently, in Victoria, we orchestrated several impactful initiatives:
Twenty organisations and individuals joined forces to raise and donate $ 19,000 directly to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria and Victoria Zoo to aid in bushfire relief efforts in 2019.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, thirteen organisations and numerous individuals from Victoria and New South Wales collaborated under the ‘Vic Lanka Covid Aid Collective’ to provide assistance to affected Victorians, particularly those of Sri Lankan descent including unemployed, students, new migrants, temporary visa holders, asylum seekers, and the mentally distressed. The $ 10,000 raised provided vital support to individuals through various means, including cash donations. In addition, we provided material assistance, mental health services, legal and employment advice and advocacy.
Recognising the dire situation in Sri Lanka during the pandemic, we expanded our efforts under the banner of Sri Lanka Covid Aid, partnering with reputable organizations such as Sarvodaya, Red Cross, Rotary Club, and Lions Club. Later, Sri Lanka Association of New South Wales and SriLankaCovidAid partnered with Rotary Clubs in New South Wales, India and Sri Lanka to provide desperately needed expensive medical equipment and other critical medical & survival requirements.
We provided Teaching Hospital Ragama, General Hospital, Kegalle and Base Hospital, Talawakele of desperately needed fully-equipped high-dependency units. We collaborated with Rotary Club in New South Wales and the Rotary International to raise about $67,000. Sri Lanka Covid Aid with Sri Lanka Association and Austra-Lanka Muslim Association of New South Wales raised $15,000, which the Rotary International and various Rotary clubs topped up to the total value of $67,000.
Amidst the economic turmoil in Sri Lanka in 2022, we established SaveADream bringing together associations and individuals in Victoria, NSW and Brisbane to address urgent needs, particularly saving the lives of new-borns and infants by providing urgently needed Nitric Oxide gas cylinders, neonatal drugs, and other devices and equipment.
To raise funds, we organised the “Dance for A Cause” dinner dance in Victoria, a Biryani Drive in Victoria and New South Wales, and other activities such as on-line fund-raising and ticket book sales. We raised approximately $50,000 including $9,514.00 from the dinner dance.
With the funds collected we were able to donate eight Nitric Oxide Gas Cylinders to Castle Street Hospital for Women; reagents and consumables for blood gas analysers worth $5,000 to Castle Street Women’s Hospital, Colombo; and 10,000 Personal Protective Equipment Kits and other medical necessities for Covid frontline workers in Sri Lanka. In 2023, we distributed nutritional food to families with malnourished children under the guidance of the District Medical Officer in partnership with Rotary Club, Batticaloa.
Our commitment to community empowerment was further demonstrated through initiatives such as the Art, Photo & Book Exhibition in April 2023, which highlighted the rich cultural tapestry of Sri Lanka’s diverse communities. The exhibition displayed the works of over seventy-five artists, photographers, and authors, about 1,000 English, Sinhalese, and Tamil books, mainly authored by Sri Lankan Australians, alongside about one hundred artworks and four hundred photographs by members of all Sri Lankan communities
It included the annual Victor Melder lecture organised by the City of Monash Libraries in honour of the extensive library of books on Sri Lanka Victor still maintains. Later, Mr Hemal Gurusinghe will share certain ideas regarding the Victor Melder Library.
Our latest initiative, ‘Empower Lanka: Building Bridges for the Community’ aims to uplift marginalized communities in rural Sri Lanka through targeted interventions in education, healthcare, and social integration. Our partnership with Rotary International will extend financial management including tax deductibility and disbursement of funds. The projects include:
Paediatric mobile ventilator and Ultrasound machine for Mullaitivu Hospital
Renovating the well at Weuda Royal Central College, Kurunegala and
Basic medical equipment for Cancer Unit of the Ratnapura Hospital
School equipment for Wettewa Primary School, Galagedera.
In addition, we also deal with a project to provide musical instruments needed by the students of Ampara Rajagama Maha Vidyalaya.
I can provide further details about these projects during our later conversations.
We invite your generous support in realising our vision of a brighter future for those in need. We have kept a donation box at the door and envelopes on tables if anyone wishes to do so. By joining hands and actively participating, we can pave the way for a more harmonious and inclusive community, setting an example for others to follow.
In closing, I extend heartfelt gratitude to our committee members, donors, sponsors, and all who have contributed to our collective endeavours over the years. Special thanks to Sri Lankan Australians Inc. for hôsting this gathering and to each one of you for your unwavering support and assistance. I am not naming them individually as there are too many to mention.
