Spouses of the Japanese Embassy Staff Support Better Future for Sri Lankan Youth

2017/3/31

March 31, 2017


 
A sum of Rs. 311,350 was donated to two NGOs, namely “Surangani Voluntary Service (SVS)” and “Only One World (OOW)”, at a donation presentation ceremony presided over by Madam Akiko Suganuma, Spouse of Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka at the Japanese Ambassador’s official residence on Thursday, 30 March 2017.
 
The fund was raised by the Association of Spouses of the Japanese Embassy Staff (ASJES) through International Christmas Charity Bazar(ICCB) 2016 held at the Hilton Colombo Residence on 28 November 2016. The Association (ASJES) has supported activities of many NGOs in Sri Lanka over the past 30 years.
 
SVS was founded in 1992 and supports mainly preschool education in Sri Lanka. The organization was represented by its Director Ms. Shigeko Baba at the ceremony. The donation from ASJES will be utilized to buy musical instruments and costumes for Marching Band of 35 children at Little Tree Disabled Children Center. This is the 16th donation from ASJES to SVS since 2001. Learning patience and concentration through the practice of musical instruments, and experiencing the joy of playing music with others, is a great way to support children’s growth and development. And ASJES is honored to be supporting such a worthy cause.
 
OOW was founded in 1991 by former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Mr. Arthur Basnayake and his wife Mrs. Damini Basnayake. OOW grants scholarships to bright and deserving students who face difficulty in attending schools due to economic challenges, and also donates medical equipment to hospitals. This is the 5th donation from ASJES to OOW since 2013.The donation from ASJES will be utilized to award monthly stipends for 4 years to two students, Miss. ATHUKORALA ARACHCHIGE ASHANI LAKSHIKA and Miss. ATHUKORALA ARACHCHIGE CHAMODI LAKSHIKA.
These two awardees expressed their gratitude to OOW and Japan at the ceremony. Mrs. Damini Basnayake, who represented OOW at the ceremony, mentioned that the scholarships through OOW were extremely helpful for students from economically challenged backgrounds.