The RLP has been working with building child resilience, providing psychosocial support to orphaned children, to parents, to the elderly; conducting mental health awareness programs in schools, villages, prison service; and by publishing a quarterly newsletter on mental wellbeing and wholesome living. The RLP helps to strengthen and improve the quality of life and well being to the people of Seenigama and its region.

Religious observances and a traditional opening mark the start of RLP’s 3rd anniversary celebration

To mark the 3rd anniversary a commemorative function was held at the Akurala temple premises and began with a ‘Pancha Seelaya’ (religious observence) at 2.15 PM.

Thereafter the propgramme began with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp by FoG founder/trustee Kushil Gunasekera and also the RLP founders Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi and clinical psychologist Mrs. Malkanthi Hettiarachchi both from the UK and psychosociol consultant Ms. Evan Ekanayake attached to the Ministry of Education and the National Institution of Education.

On the occassion, the RLP team remembered their late teacher Prof. Padmal de Silva and also Sri Lanka’s tsunami victims and victims of war and disaster around the world.

Colourful items that made the RLP 3rd anniversary event a memorable one.

The welcome address was delivered by RLP team leader Roshan de Soysa followed by a musical item performed by the RLP team and volunteers.

Beneficiaries of the Akurala Child Resilience Building Programme performed a welcome dance which was followed by a sermon on Values and Virtues by Venerable Waskaduwe Wimalachandra thera, the principal of Sri Vidyananda Dhaham School.

The celebration once again swung into aesthetic action with the beneficiaries of the Kahawa Child Resilience Programme putting on a dance recital.

RLP founder Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi who addressed the gathering speaking on ‘The NGO and its Globalization’ said “we cannot be like a flower that blooms and dies in the forest. We should spread to other areas as well.”

Addressing the event, the FoG’s founder/trustee praised the RLP team’s hard work. “Your efforts to improve the quality of life of those in distress in commendable. Particularly elevating the standards of children and the elderly” Gunasekera said. He also said that such an unit is so impacting in the context of the village and thanked the founders for planting a seed that has grown for the good of mankind. He also remembered RLP’s donors saying “we would fail in our duty if we do not mention our kind donors UNICEF, Dr. Gordon Bermant of the USA and Prof. Jeanne Marecek of Swathmore College, USA who have been pillars of strength and who have contributed in no small measure to making RLP a success.”

The RLP team who were awarded medals
for their dedication and hard work.

The RLP team also handed awards of gratitude to Gunasekera, the RLP founders and its coordinator Farzana Ibrahim, for thier contribution to making the programme a success. This kind gesture was returned when the recipients handed out medals of gratitude for the 3 years of commitment and dedication in providing a charitable service to the people of this region.

Also speaking on this happy occassion was Mr. Dhammika F. Perera the secretary of the Balapitiya Elders Home where the RLP has been helping to improve living standards and to help adjust to life changes for its 40 inmates.

More dance followed as the Akurala Child Resilience Building Programme beneficiaries took to the stage with their performance which was followed by a speech by Kaushalya who is a Kahawa Child Resilience Building Programme beneficiary, whereafter other Kahawa children performed the closing dance recital.

Kahawa volunteer Dhanesha de Silva gave the vote of thanks and after that it was time for some light refreshments and fellowship.

Following the entertainment a bodhi pooja was held in remembrance of Prof. Padmal de Silva, and victims of war and disaster around the world.

The RLP’s 3rd anniversary event culminated in a celebratory dinner.

“Whatever we posses becomes of double value,
when we have the opportunity of sharing
it with eachother” - Bouilly