Let not other children suffer

• Giving the child hope...
• We aspire to be good citizens
• Soothing their future hopes

Giving the child hope...

In June last year the Committee of the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave considerable thought to the question of selecting a suitable project for which funds could be raised by our Missions abroad.

lt was agreed that at this critical juncture in the history of our country when the ongoing war has caused so much damage, distress and suffering, the most worthy project would be to help the children of deceased and disabled soldiers to obtain an education by providing them with some financial assistance.

lt is the children who are the ultimate victims of war. When a child loses a father or has a disabled father, the child's view of the world and his or her own future becomes gloomy and pessimistic.

The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs felt that if we could build up a fund that would guarantee to that child a secure and uninterrupted education it would give the child a sense of hope and optimism in the harsh world in which the child would have to grow up.

I am happy to acknowledge the enthusiastic support this project has received from the Sri Lanka Missions abroad. The Seva Vanitha Units of many of our Missions have contributed substantial funds towards the scholarships scheme.

I would like to explain that the funds so far collected by our Missions abroad for this scholarship scheme have reached the most impressive total of Sri Lanka Rupees Four Million Five Hundred Thousand.

Vote of thanks by a young recipient:

We aspire to be good citizens

I believe, it is my responsi bility on behalf of scholarship recipients, to speak a few words, as a fortunate beneficiary myself.

At the outset, let me appreciate the efforts of those responsible in showing a measure of kindness to those Children of disabled fathers or whose fathers are killed in the war. It is indeed a laudable thing to give 100 children Rs. 500/- each as aid. We are glad to hear that in addition, we would receive Rs. 10,000/- at the end of our school career.

I wish to assure on behalf of all recipients, that with the aid of this scholarship, donated by the women's unit, we would with the help of higher studies, aspire to be good citizens.

We wish that you be blessed to continue with this programme to help others, our brothers and sisters, who too would be children of fathers who could be disabled or who would die in the war.

We thank the women's unit of the Foreign Ministry again and again, for the scholarships awarded to us.

We hope and pray that other children be spared the rigours and hazards that this war brings in its wake, and that they be not made to weep and mourn the ravages of such unfortunate incidents.

We thank those responsible in organizing this occasion, specially the women's' unit of the Foreign Ministry, its President in particular, the staff, the Army Commander and the rest involved. I end with thanks to the parents of beneficiaries who have come from distant places to grace this occasion, all our brothers and sisters.

Excerpts from Army Commander's speech

Soothing their future hopes

I consider attending the scholarship award ceremony organized by the Women's Unit of the Foreign Ministry, a blessing. It is clear to us that the concept of the women's service unit is developing with time. This is specially true when considering the progress made by the Women's' Unit of the Foreign Ministry, which has completed successfully many an important project, full of charity and very human in character. The lives lost in this country due to the ongoing war, are many.

A careful meditation will make us aware how difficult it is to get on with life, when one's father gets killed or disabled. A concept such as this, goes a long way in soothing their future hopes, and hence this programme is laudable, in that it takes over the family responsibility.

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