Stamping a difference

Two years ago a group of us ladies, mostly members of the Methodist Church, together with caring and interested friends began to serve tea and fish buns to the recipients of the charity allowance. The room that we were given to serve the tea at the Mount Lavinia Post Office was anything but welcoming. But we did the best we could under the conditions that existed then.

A few months after we began our 'Tea Project', a new Chief Postmaster took over duties at the Post Office. A quiet soft-spoken gentleman is Mr. K. Somasundaram, who began to make a difference to this office. First he went out of his way to make friends with the regular customers.

Then he began to ask for favours, don't get me wrong, the favours were not for him but for the Post Office.

Soon our dirty room and the rest of the office got a colour wash, the floors were tiled, the toilets were given a face lift, finally he got a well wisher to build a good ramp together with a railing, for the use of... you guessed it, the differently abled who can now take their wheel chairs right up to the counters.

He asked for potted plants. At first I humoured him and gave him two potted plants, thinking to myself that they would not last even two months. But I was wrong. Other customers have given this office potted plants and they are doing well.

Through helping those who receive the charity allowance, we have been enriched.

We have been 'booked' for this dana. Sri Lankans are so generous and give so willingly when they know that what they give goes to the right persons. Those who give come from all communities and religious backgrounds, and those who receive too come from these same backgrounds.

On the 'ping padi' day we have to sweep a load of cigarette butts from 'our' room. I feel so sad to see much money go up in 'smoke'.

So I got posters and literature from ADIC and gave these to the PM, who is waiting for the right time to use these posters. He is very concerned about the young men who smoke so much. But then there is only so much that one can do. I find that all the officers, minor staff included are courteous and caring.

Thank you, Mr Somasundaram, for daring to be different, for working for the people and not for the salary.

By Sujatha Wickramasinghe, via email