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Where tranquillity lingers
By Sachitra Indivara Mahendra
In a garden full of greenery and flowers, are benches where patients can sit and chat or just watch the world go by. At the Shanta Sevana Hospice, just a few yards behind the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, there is no rush or stress.

Shanta Sevana, affiliated to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society accepts only cancer patients, who have reached the incurable stage.They are given no medication save some painkillers.

The walls and floors are shining clean including the ward which can accommodate 16 patients. The patients relax by watching TV. One joins her hands in greeting. She is sure of her recovery and looks forward to the possibility of returning home. "Yes, you can. You have improved quite a lot," the nurses tell her.

There are two private rooms too, explains Srimathi Dayaratna, the hospice assistant. "With these rooms we can keep 36 patients," says Mrs. Dayaratna. The institute is run mainly with the funds of the chief donor Sohli Captain.

A friend of mine told me how he had celebrated his birthday at Shanta Sevana sharing a meal with the patients. "All this brings solace rather than having parties at home.”

The hospice committee, which comprises the chairperson and eight committee members meets once a month and discusses the hospice activities. The present chairperson is Shyamen Jayasinghe. Ajantha Wickramasuriya, former chairperson as well as executive member, explained how Shanta Sevana was built by Mr. Captain and donated to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society in 1996.

"The Cancer Society was formed in 1948. Ours is a sub-committee of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society which has a number of such committees," Mrs. Wickramasuriya adds.

Those who would like to provide a meal to the hospice could contact the Shanta Sevana Hospice, 65, Hospital Road, Maharagama on tel: 2840312 or the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, 37/25, Buller’s Lane, Colombo 07 on 2585879.

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