Conservation project hits wall

By Bonjean David

Nearly 100 male and female inmates of a Home for the Elders at Mahaiyawa in Kandy will be treated to an evening party this week to mark International Day of Elders.

This elders’ home was the efforts by some citizens and Councillors to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. While the land was donated by the Council, the buildings were provided by the citizens. Kandy Bishop Rt. Rev. Bernard Regno OSB undertook to do so.

The Rev. Sisters of the Order of St. Francis Xavier, undertook to see to the smooth running of the new home and three nuns took the main responsibility.

Today, the Municipality retains the ownership of the land while the management of the Home is the responsibility of the Sisters who see that only destitute and homeless elders from the province are admitted.

This Order of the Sisters was absorbed by the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1957 and they run the Home today.