Kiwanis new president

By Yvonne Gulamhusein

She is also the First Kiwanis Lady President in the world. Kiwanis is an old Red Indian word meaning "To help." Kiwanis Club is a member of Kiwanis International, a service organisation. Ramola explained that their international theme "building better lives for underprivileged children " was what drew her eight years ago to membership in this distinguished club. In keeping with this theme, the Colombo Kiwanis had established the ICU at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in 1987, which is the only one of its kind in the whole island. 

Throughout its 11 years the Kiwanis Club has been responsible for its maintenance and service, investing 21 million rupees, to date on this project. 

Ramola is the Executive Director of The Polytechnic Ltd., Business College, which was started by her grandfather the late Lawrie Muthukrishna in 1901 together with his two sisters. The Institute she said, is happy to celebrate 100 years of service to the nation in the year 2000. 

The institute has served people from many walks of life, mostly from the less affluent classes. It caters to students who cannot and do not wish to enter traditional Universities by providing a variety of job-oriented courses ranging from secretarial to accountancy, management and other vocational fields. 

Ramola is a Chartered Secretary by profession. She is a past pupil of Bishop's College, Colombo and has been actively involved in the Past Pupils' Association for many years.

Ramola is also the Deputy Representative for Trinity London Examinations conducted in Sri Lanka in Music, Speech and Drama, Effective Communication and Spoken English. 

She said "My interest in social welfare activities really began as far as I can remember, as a school girl accompanying my mother, Mano Muthukrishna doing the round of houses in the neighbourhood selling flags for various worthy causes. The late Ms. Enid Raffel, a very active social worker, used to head the band of flag sellers in the Wellawatta area."

But of course, it was possible in those days, for persons to go down lanes calling at homes asking householders to buy a flag. Today, this would not be possible, as other methods have evolved to raise funds for charity.

Ramola remembers her mother saying that her grandmother was also involved with various charitable causes. She worked with late Dr. Mary Ratnam, a live wire in the Temperance Movement and the Sri Lanka Women's Conference. 

Her grandmother was also a member of the Animal Lovers Association, and of course, involved with her Church activities. So it was quite natural then, she explained, that her mother followed in her footsteps. Ramola's children too joined in many school efforts to raise funds for a cause. 

Children today, she said are sensitive to the need to serve and help others, and most schools encourage children to think about the less fortunate and help in positive ways.

Ramola is a member of the Zonta Club of Colombo and a past President and was involved with Zonta activities when she joined the Kiwanis. There are two Zonta Clubs in Colombo, which have now become members of the Kindred Clubs Association which consist of Rotary Club of Colombo, Lions Club of Colombo (Host), Jaycees, Round Table, Zonta and Kiwanis. 

As President of the Kiwanis Club she has to raise funds for their main projects. With this in view, she said Kiwanis members are organising a grand charity ball on the February 13.

Ramola said she is happy to work with a group of committed members which makes her task as President much easier. Being a link in the chain of Kindred Clubs will also give considerable support and fellowship.

Another unique feature is that the Secretary, Loretta de Mel and the Treasurer Renuka Wickramaratne are the two other Ladies in the official line up in this distinctive male dominated Club.

HELP  !!!!

Heart patient seeks help

He was admitted twice in a state of coma to the Intensive Care Units at the Royal Hospital, Wellawatte and the Colombo General Hospital and was treated. 

Doctors had advised him to go in for by-pass operation, privately, at the earliest possible date.

He needs Rs 3 to 4 lakhs to undergo surgery either at Nawaloka Hospital or Sri Jayewardenapura Hospital, and seeks financial assistance from sympathisers, well-wishers and philanthropists.

Those who wish to help Mr. Periyathamby can contribute to Account No 100232154424, the Bank of Ceylon, Wellawatte Branch.

Ranavirugama needs a lot more

For those of us who have been visiting the disabled soldiers at Ranavirugama in Nittambuwa, the change from the initial frustration over the cruel twist of fate is heartwarming.

A secret visit by a group of past pupils from a convent school to Ranavirugama to provide some cheer for the festive season, with a party thrown in with a Santa and gifts for the 150 children and their parents was an eye-opener.

Nattily dressed soldiers were walking around displaying little evidence of their disabilities. One had to look closely to see the artificial limbs while others like Jagath were perkily perched on wheelchairs being deftly manoeuvred among the jostling crowd.

Jagath, minus both limbs, has amazing ingenuity - seated on his mini-scooter tractor he acts as a sort of transport agent, taking small parcels and other commodities around the housing complex.

Most of the soldiers, with artificial limbs continue to travel by public transport for work at the army headquarters in Colombo or Panagoda. Others who have been blinded or can move around inside the complex have invested their compensation money in trishaws, but find to their dismay that like in similar other ventures there is more loss than gain, especially since someone else runs it.

Wives, mothers and children are happy to be reunited with the men after years of uncertainty and suffering, wondering whether they would ever be together once more.

And what of the men? It wouldn't be fair to identify them but there was general agreement that most of those who joined the army were almost compelled to do so because it was either that or a life of misery, even starvation.

"We were insecure, jobless and faced a bleak future," they said, emphasising that although most of them joined the services halfheartedly the urge to get back into action is very strong. "But sadly, we cannot use weapons in our present condition," they said.

But Ranavirugama needs a lot more help from caring people. 

The assistance received so far has been put to good use. 

These young men, like others who have volunteered to take to arms so that the rest of us in the South could sleep peacefully, need a new lease of life -further encouragement to reach their goals.

A water tank which will cost about Rs.150,000, wheelchairs, and a playground are some urgent requirements. 

As Middleton, a famous writer of many years ago, said:
The deeds of charity we have done,
Shall stay with us forever-
Only the wealth we have so bestowed do we keep;
the other is not ours.

– VW

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