Sunday Times 2
Rotary International gets US$ 100,000 from Lanka
View(s):A cheque for US$ 100,000 in favour of the Rotary Foundation was handed over to Rotary International’s new President K.R. Ravindran at a banquet held by Rotary Sri Lanka in honour of him on Sunday at Hotel Hilton.
The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit organisation which collects funds through donations and distributes them back to the countries at more than three-fold increase. The US$ 100,000 donated on Sunday evening will come back to Sri Lanka in three years time as US$ 400,000 for use in community service projects.
Mr. Ravindran was the first Sri Lankan to hold the prestigious office of President of Rotary International, which has more than 1.2 million Rotarians in 35,000 Rotary clubs spread across 220 countries and geographical areas worldwide.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the chief guest at the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Wickremesinghe said Mr. Ravindran had brought great honour to Sri Lanka through his achievement and he hoped he could use his services as an international ambassador after he completes his tenure as Rotary President.
Mr. Wickremesinghe who is an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Colombo West was formally presented with a Rotary lapel pin to confirm his induction. Rotary was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1929 with the founding of the Rotary Club of Colombo. Since then Rotary has grown from strength to strength and today there are 70 Rotary Clubs with a membership of over 2,000 spread across the entire country.
It was Rotary that pioneered the formation of the Cancer Society, The CNAPT – the Ceylon National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, SLANA – Sri Lanka Anti Narcotic Agency, Diabetes Centre, the Cancer Early detection Centre, Polio immunisation and the Schools Re-awakening Project to rebuild 25 schools destroyed by the 2004 tsunami.