A big thank you to our readers
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Paralysed Sampath at the National Hospital
The full measure of the generosity of Sri Lankans came to the fore soon after the article headlined, ‘Only hopelessness stares in her face’ was published on the PLUS cover of the Sunday Times on February 23.
The article was about mother of three, Kanthi Gunatunge of Pelahela, close to Dekatana, Kirindiwela, struggling to survive and cope with daily life and paralysed husband, Sampath, in the Neurotrauma Unit of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), as an unseen event has shattered the life of this family.
The calls to Kanthi by numerous people from Colombo and even from as far as Jaffna and Galle came early that Sunday morning, continuing throughout the past two weeks, not only to assure her about financial support but also to show her that they care about her plight.
This was while many also promised her that they would visit her humble home and already some have, with one organisation walking around her house and promising that they would fully repair the leaking roof by replacing all the asbestos sheets, upgrade the toilet from one of squatting to that with a commode so that Kanthi’s aged mother-in-law need not strain her knees and more.
Kanthi
This organisation has also cleared Kanthi’s debts – the arrears and insurance instalment payments of her essential scooter which she needs to carry out all her duties and another loan from the Hatton National Bank (HNB). It has also delivered on its promises with the building material worth around Rs. 350,000 and indicated its commitment to paying the baases as well.
The calls had been poignant as well – “I’m a pensioner,” a retired teacher had said, promising to put some money into Kanthi’s bank account as soon as her pension is received; “I give a daane (alms-giving) for my father in March, but that money I will send to Kanthi,” a well-known doctor said; and another has promised supermarket vouchers so that Kanthi could buy “anything” her children would like to “kanna and bonna”.
Another person, meanwhile, had asked her to come to her office in Cinnamon Gardens, after her 12 noon hospital visit, and put into Kanthi’s hands close to Rs. 15,000 to pay the arrears on the Samurdhi loan and promised to transfer Rs. 10,000 monthly to her account to meet the Samurdhi instalment of Rs. 2,000 every month and buy her children’s needs with the balance.
The monies flowed in too, close to Rs. 340,000, to the bank account of this beleaguered wife and mother as from within Sri Lanka and also abroad people dug deep into their pockets to help.
“A 94-year-old gentleman from Galle called to say that he cannot move around but has transferred Rs. 1,000 to my account,” says Kanthi, overwhelmed by all this concern and support.
While Kanthi keeps saying that a heartfelt thank-you goes out from her, the children and mother-in-law, the Sunday Times is not only very appreciative but also humbled by this immense response to our article.
We too can say only two simple words to our readers – “Thank you.”