Sunday Times 2
Suwa Arana: A place for healing Embracing life, inspiring hope
View(s):- Dr N Lanka Jayasuriya – Dissanayake
Death is a universal experience; it is the only certainty that accompanies our birth. I begin with death because it was such an incident that led to the birth of an organisation dedicated to cancer patients.
The Indira Cancer Trust is named after Indira Jayasuriya, the daughter of former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. Indira was a mother, sister, wife, and daughter. When my younger sister, Indira, passed away peacefully in a hospital bed in London, surrounded by her family, we found peace knowing she had a comfortable and pain-free end. Her life was far too short at just 40, leaving behind a young family—a son of one year, a daughter of four years, and a devoted husband.
Indira Jayasuriya
Amidst our grief, the Indira Cancer Trust was born. Hope for patients, families, and a future of strength and comfort for those battling cancer. June 29 marks the first anniversary of Suwa Arana – A place for healing. This is the largest project undertaken by the Indira Cancer Trust, complementing over 20 existing programmes, including a helpline, livelihood support, wig donations, educational scholarships, and assistance with medicine, investigations, transportation, and funerals.
Our journey began in a small room on Hospital Road. Today, we support cancer patients and their families with a wide range of services. Our strength lies in our team, volunteers, staff, and coordinators, who have been with us for 8 years. We all share a common belief in creating a healing environment for anyone who walks through our doors.
Suwa Arana is not a hospital, hospice, or ward. It is a home – a home for children and their families, providing the love, care, and compassion needed. This also transforms us as a team, as we witness families’ trials, tribulations, and moments of joy.
Since opening in June 2023, we have welcomed over 600 children and 2,000 family members. Each has a unique story.
At Suwa Arana, we provide accommodation, food, relaxation, education, transportation, medicine, and livelihood support to help families become economically stable when they return home. We emphasise the importance of family. It is heart-wrenching to hear that some children have not seen a parent or sibling for months. The joy on their faces when families reunite for a weekend at our facility is immeasurable.
We experience emotional turmoil when we lose a child. Though death is inevitable, losing a child is particularly hard to accept. At Suwa Arana, we create happy memories that extend beyond death, providing comfort to the parents. The children refer to our facility as the “Indira Hotel,” loving their rooms and the food, often not wanting to leave.
Cancer is a harsh reality, especially when it affects children. We have seen children as young as two months come through our doors. Many return home, some do not get that chance. Suwa Arana is more than just a cancer centre; it is meticulously designed to foster an atmosphere of healing. We are grateful to our team and supporters who made this possible, even amid Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Covid-19, and political upheaval.
One year on, we look back with pride. A building is meaningless without matching services, and we are blessed with a dedicated team and their support. We invite you to visit this place of healing. Life passes by in seconds, with its busy schedules and competing priorities. Yet, we urge you to do something for others without any expectations. Nothing can match the feeling you get from this. Visit us, connect with us—this is a happy place, and there is much you can do to make a difference.