Rotary Club of Colombo North

ROTARY CLUB OF COLOMBO NORTH – 2023/2024

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Reverse Osmosis Unit
A reverse osmosis water purification unit was installed and officially handed over to Vijayaraja Maha Vidyalaya – Kalinga Ela, Polonnaruwa in May 2024 that has 800+ students to provide clean drinking water. The school is in the North Central Province, an area prone to Chronic Kidney Disease due to drinking of chemical contaminated water. PP Herman Amerasekera was the generous donor for this project. Milk packets were also provided to the school children on the day of handing over the unit. The project was done in collaboration with Zonta Club II of Colombo. A plaque to mark the donation recognizes RCCN and Zonta Club and the project donor.  
                          
Supporting School Gardens 

RCCN donated 10 plants (inclusive of fruit, vegetable and greens) and seeds to the school children of Vijayaraja Maha Vidyalaya, Kalinga Ela, Polonnaruwa on the 29th of May 2024. The students were happy to add the plants to their existing school garden and will be nurtured by the students.                                                                            

Clean Air For All (Phase I)- Environment Awareness project 

An awareness project on the harmful effects of air pollution and how individuals can make an impact in their communities through simple changes was highlighted through a print and electronic media campaign in 26th to 31st May 2024. As an initial phase, the awareness was focused on the City of Colombo and the Environmental Law in place against the burning of organic and in-organic waste.  

                                                                                               

 
Project CANCON – Phase III – The Colombo North family (Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors) successfully completed The Blood Donation Drive as Phase 3 of Project CANCON (Cancer Control) on the 3rd May 2024 at the National Blood Transfusion Bank. RCCN sponsored the refreshments for the blood donors.
                                                                             
 

‘Project Hope – The Prison Project – Phase II’, On the 21st of March, the Global Shapers – Colombo Hub partnered with The Rotary Club of Colombo North and the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN) to spend a day with the children of the inmates at Welikada prison. They shared a delicious fast food meal (burger, cake, milk packet, marshmellows and water), as requested by the prison administration, and spent quality time bonding with the kids by drawing, colouring, singing and dancing. The children were given 25 drawing books and 25 boxes of crayons during the visit. They were encouraged to use them to draw pictures of pigeons as a symbol of peace. 

The team also handed over the Little Minds Strong Values (LMSV) songbook to the nursery at the Female Ward, which features peace and moral values for children, sung by renowned singer Rtn.PP Rukshan Fernando. 

 

Additionally, a female warden requested Pampers for an infant inside the prison in immediate need, which was also generously donated by a supportive donor. Phase II of the project aimed at promoting peace and harmony among the children of prisoners.

Project Yaluwa- Phase III – A project on raising awareness on Down’s Syndrome. Service Projects Director Rtn Dulip Jayamaha represented the club at the Rising Star – talent show followed by a medical camp (sponsored by RCCN) which was held on Sunday 17th March 2024 at the Medical Faculty, University of Colombo. Host Clubs : Rotary Club of Colombo North in Collaboration with, Rotaract Clubs of the Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Science , University of Colombo and Rotaract Club of APIIT.
                                                     
 
Annual Christmas Get-together at Home of Compassion Mahawatta was held on Saturday 16th December 2023. The club members and their families and friends were joined by the Rotaractors of Colombo North and Medical Faculty and Interactors of Wesley College to sing Christmas carols and to have meaningful conversations with the elders at the home.  PP Shewantha coordinated the event.
 
                             
 

Project Hope – Phase 1

Rotary Club of Colombo North, in collaboration with Global Shapers Colombo Hub – an initiative of World Economic Forum, announced a Book Drive ( Pages of Hope) for the children of the inmates at the Welikada Prison to commemorate the Literacy month in September.

On the 22nd of September 2023, nearly 200+ books (Trilingual) received as donations by club members and well-wishers were handed over to the Prison Headquarters in Welikada in the presence of Mr. Chandana Ekanayake – Superintendent / Director Training – Department of Prisons , Mr.Gamini Bandara Dissanayake- Prison Commissioner ( Rehabilitation) – Senior Superintendent of Prisons.

                                                                                 

VOCATIONAL SERVICE

President Lasika handing over the Vocational Service Award to Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana MBBS, MSc , MD (Com.Med), Director, National STD/AIDS Control Programme in January 2024 at the Annual General Meeting in commemoration of the Vocational Services month
                                                    
Our senior Rotarian PP Sriyanta Seneratna handed over the Vocational Service Award to Mr. Hikkaduwa Galapaththige Ananda from the Colombo YMCA, for being a silent hand behind the All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition since its inception in 1973. Incidentaly, PP Senaratna has also been involved in the competition since 1973. The award was given during the results announcement of the Semi-Finals of the 48th All Island Interschool Shakespeare Drama Competition at the Lionel Wendt theatre with an audience of 600+ school children, parents and theatre enthusiasts.
 
48th All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition
 The competition jointly organized with the Colombo YMCA was held in September 2023 and was a huge success with the 3 day semi-finals (Lionel Wendt Theatre) and 2 day finals with the same number of participating schools as in 2019, the last time the competition was held in its original form. IPP Pubudu De Zoysa was the Chief Guest for the Girls Finals and Theatre Practitioner and Founder of Centrestage Productions Mr. Jehan Aloysius was the Chief Guest for the Boys Finals held at the Bishops College Auditorium.  The press coverage received this year ranging from newspapers, television and radio in addition to social media improved the visibility of the project as well as our club. The Rotaractors and Interactors from RCCN’s sponsoring clubs assisted in the event management including First Aid response. 
                                                      
                                                                              
 
There were two special features following this year’s competition. One was a special screening of Shakespeare Play Hamlet (National Theatre – UK) at Majestic Cinema sponsored by the British Council, Colombo for the winning and runner-up teams. The second feature was the opportunity given by the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund for the winning and runner-up teams to perform at the Lionel Wendt Performing Arts Festival 2023. 

 

YOUTH SERVICE

Rotaract Roadshow 

An event organized by the Rotaract Club of Colombo North to given an introduction/orientation to Interactors on Rotaract and the Rotary Movement was held with Rotaract members from the District and Rotary President Lasika was the Chief Guest at the event.  The aim was to outline the benefits of joining Rotaract and the Rotary movement. 

The Colombo North Family Annual Paduru Party held on the 10th of February at the Medical Faculty Tower rooftop with their sponsoring Rotaract and Interact Clubs. It was an evening of fellowship and interaction among the Colombo North family.
 
                                                              
 
Club projects with youth engagement
The Rotaractors and Interactors from RCCN sponsored clubs joined to assisted in two of our signature club projects the All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition and Annual visit to Home of Compassion this year. 
 
                        

 

The 45th Installation of the Interact Club of Wesley College was held on the 1st of December 2023 at the College Hall. The school officials including the Principal, Vice Principal and President Lasika Jayamaha were escorted by the school band to commence the proceedings. PP Marshad Barry – Youth Advisor was also present along with past interactors of the club, since it was a milestone event.
 

The 49th Installation was held at the Carey College Hall on the 29th of November 2023. School Principal Mrs. Hemamali Bibile was the chief guest. President Lasika Jayamaha was the guest of honour and addressed the gathering.

President Lasika Jayamaha also attended a joint awareness programme organized by Rotaract Club of Singer Sri Lanka and Interact Club of Mahanama College together with the Sri Lanka Police on preventing youth becoming drug offenders.

The 10th Installation of Rotaract Club of Singer Sri Lanka was held on 17th October 2023 at the Head office Auditorium.

The 9th Installation of the Interact Club of Colombo North was held on the 9th of October 2023 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium.

The 6th Installation Ceremony of the Rotaract Club of Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo was held on the 25th September 2023 at the Auditorium of the University of Colombo Medical Faculty Tower. President Lasika Jayamaha, PP Marshad Barry – Youth Advisor were present. Vidya Jyothi Prof. Vajira Dissanayake – Faculty Dean was the Chief Guest

The 32nd Installation Ceremony of the Rotaract Club of Colombo North held on 17th Sept 2023- (one of our sponsoring Rotaract Clubs) at the Panibaratha Theatre – University of Visual and Performing Arts. President Lasika Jayamaha was the Chief Guest. PP Amjath Yoosuf (District Youth Services Chair), PP Marshad Barry (RCCN Youth Services Chair and District Public Image Chair) and Rtn Rtr Lafraan Lahir and Rtn Rtr Ahamed Hussain were also present. Rtr Dhamin Sarap handed over the club presidency to Rtr Basharath Isamath.

                     

President Lasika and Sergeant-at-arms Rtn. Ahamed were guest speakers at an event Organized by the Youth (Rotaract Club of ANC and Interact Club of Wesley College) in August 2023
 

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Rotary International Convention in Singapore – May 2024

PP Amjath Yoosuf and President Elect Haneekah Rahil represented RCCN at the RI Convention. 

                                                     

Members of RCCN met with project partners Veterinarians International in March 2024 during their visit to Sri Lanka 
 
                                                                     
 
 

Secretary/President Elect Haneekah Rahil was selected to represent Rotary International at the COP28 – (United Nations Conference on Climate Change) at UAE. She was one of the 12 delegates who were selected from all over the world among the 67 applications received. 

Rotary International for the first time set up a Rotary Pavillion at the recently concluded COP28 conference (United Nations Conference on Climate Change) Rotary had ensured the main Pavilion to be among the policy makers in the Blue Zone. More than 20 official delegates from Rotary International visited UAE during this 2 weeks involvement, among which Rotary International President Gordon McInally, CEO John Hewko, Trustee Chair Barry Rassin, even RIPN Mario Cesar, ESRAG Chair Yasir Attacik, Christopher F. Puttock – Chair Rotary Action Group’s Council Cabinet, Salvador Rico- ESRAG, Judith Diment, Dean, Rotary Representatives Network to the UN and International Agencies,Neil Van Dine- BOD WASH Rotary Action Group, Dr Meenakshi Venkataraman- Director ESRAG.

Haneekah was also invited to attend the high level reception of Commonwealth held at Dubai. She can be seen with Hon. Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland , Hon. Alexi Gunasekera, Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai & the Northern Emirates ( Sri Lankan Ambassador for UAE).

                                 

Sister Club Signing Agreement was signed in September 2023 between RCCN and the Rotary Club of Ranipet (RID3231) to collaborate on projects and to create friendship between the two clubs. 
 
 
Rotary Club of Colombo North hosted visiting Rotarian  and President of Rotary Club of Dubai Downtown Rtn. PDRR. Devanand Mahadev  on 30th August 2023 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. RCCN President Rtn Lasika Jayamaha together with Club Members exchanged Club banners with Rtn PDRR Mahadev as a symbol of Rotary Friendship Exchange to strengthen our International rotary connections.
 
                           
In early August PP. Marshad Barry hosted two visiting Rotarians from Bangladesh and Pakistan and exchanged our Club Pennants as a symbol of rotary friendship exchange to strengthen our international rotary connections with the visiting Rotarians Rtn.Shafayat Ullah President 20/21 – Rotary Club of Dhaka
and Rotary District Governor Masrur Scheik RI District 3272 Pakistan with DRCC Ishrat Shameem.

 

CLUB SERVICE

Joint Meeting with Rotary Clubs of Port City, Colombo Centennial and Negombo Next Gen was held on 8th May at Hotel Sofia Colombo. Guest Speaker Vidya Jyothi Prof. Arjuna De Silva enlightened the audience on Fatty Liver Disease. RCCN members present included President Lasika Jayamaha,
PP Lochi Gunaratna, PP Dulip Jayamaha, PP Amjath Yusoof and Rtn. Shanta Gunaratna.

The Rotary Soorya Mangalya 2024 was held on the 25th April 2024 jointly organized by the Rotary clubs of Port City, Reconnections, Fort, Jaela-Kandana and Colombo North. It was an evening of fellowship along with Avurudhu games and traditional food bring together members and their families. 

                                                                    

General meeting and Luncheon fellowship was held on 18th April 2024 at Galadari Hotel.  
 
Cluster Meeting held on 28th February 2024 at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Rotary Clubs Colombo Midtown and Colombo Infinity of with AG Aimon Jameel, DG Jerome Rajendram and Guest Speaker Shri Vyasah Kalyanasundaram.
 
                                                     
 
Annual General Meeting was held at Galadari Hotel with a majority of the club members in attendance. The Leadership Team for the Rotary Year 2024/2025 was officially announced to the membership. After the meeting, the member enjoyed an evening of fellowship. 
 

General meeting November 2023 at Hilton Colombo Residencies and the club membership decided on the DGND candidate the club would vote for. The electronic vote was done by President Lasika in the presence of the members at the meeting.

The District Governor’s Official Visit was held on the 28th November 2023 at Colombo Hilton Residencies. The District Officials including DG Jerome Rajendram, DS Vellupillai Ramanah, AG Aimon Jameel and Governor’s Aide Gamini Madanayake and the Presidents and Secretaries from the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo North, Medical Faculty, Singer Sri Lanka and Interact Clubs of Colombo North, Wesley and Carey were also present.

                                                        

General meeting October 2023 at Hilton Colombo Residencies. The members gathered for a evening tea meeting and fellowship.

General Meeting August 2023 
The first general meeting was held on 8th August 2023 at the SSC with more than 60% of the members in attendance. Family members also joined in for fellowship after the meeting as the physical clubs meetings resumed this year.
 

56th Installation of President Lasika Jayamaha

The 56th Installation of President Lasika Jayamaha and her Board of Directors for the year 2023-2024 was held on Tuesday the 4th of July 2023 at Galadari Hotel, Colombo. President Lasika was she was introduced by PP Asoka Peiris and collared by IPP Dushyantha Basnayake, amidst a gathering of  distinguished senior  Rotarians and well-wishers. New member Rtn. Shanta Gunaratna was also inducted to the club. Senior Rotarians of the Club inaugurated the Club Website as a platform to showcase the club’s activities and to archive the club’s rich history of 56 years.

                                 

The Chief Guest, District Governor 2023-2024 District 3220 Rtn. Jerome Rajendram and Mrs. Rajendram graced the occasion.

President Lasika Jayamaha aims to lead her team to take action to create lasting change in our communities and be the hope givers to “Create Hope in the World”  the Rotary theme for the year 2023-2024

PUBLIC IMAGE

The club was featured in the Rotary International Magazine February 2024 issue. The first for our club and for our longstanding club project the All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition in its 48th year. RCCN extends their appreciation to the Rotarians and to everyone that has been a part of this project over the years and is grateful that after all this time, the project has gained recognition internationally.  
 
                                                                                         
 
 
The 48th All Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition received media coverage across Print Media (Sunday Times), Electronic Media (NewsFirst and EFM Radio) reaching a global audience.
 
 

 

DISTRICT EVENTS

RCCN attended the 33rd Rotary District Conference and Fiesta held on the 26th and 27th of April at the BMICH and Monarch Imperial. Club members PP Asoka Peiris and PP Amjath Yoosuf were speakers at the technical sessions. RCCN received recognition for sponsoring 1500 trees donated by PP Amjath Yusoof. President Lasika Jayamaha and PP Amjath Yusoof received the certificate of recognition from RI President’s Representative Per Hoyen. 
 
                                                                       
 
RI President’s Visit January 2024
Club members gave a warm welcome to RI President Gordon McInally and Mrs. McInally at the Inter-City Meeting and Black-Tie Charity Dinner
 
                                                                         
 
 Members of RCCN at the Rotary District Membership Training Seminar held on August 12th at the Lotus Tower.