For the final blog from the Sri Lanka 2025 team, we would like to share a few signs and scenes probably not seen too often in Southern Ontario (or Canada for that matter)!
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Viewing entries in
Sri Lanka
The last child received his gift of a bedkit from one of Sleeping Children Around The World’s generous donors. A better night’s sleep is guaranteed. Tomorrow, sadly, we will see no more children, but we do have an opportunity to see where some of the bedkit items are produced.
We visited three manufacturers who produce the t-shirts and pyjamas, the re-usable carrying bag, and the pillow. The t-shirts and pyjamas are made by a group of twelve women, working with very modern sewing machines. They are brought to work by the company van since all live locally. Some women were already trained before starting here, others were trained on the job. The business has been operating for 15 years, starting in a small way inside the home, eventually expanding to the current sewing centre.
The reusable carry bags are a product of a cottage industry, 7,000 bags were made in three weeks by three ladies using re-built industrial sewing machines. In previous years this company has also supplied the schoolbags for the SCAW distribution.
All 7,000 pillows are made in a small cottage industry by three industrious women. The pillows are hand-stuffed with shredded material.
SCAW is very grateful to their Overseas Volunteer Partners for their diligence in seeking out reliable, conscientious suppliers for the bedkit items, ensuring that donated dollars are wisely spent.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Today we traveled from Kandy to Columbo which was a fairly long trip broken up by numerous exciting distractions. A big surprise was seeing a lady with three porcupines on leashes like dogs. She was very unhappy when we were taking photos as this was her way of making a living so naturally we contributed.
The main event was visiting the Pinnawala elephant orphanage which we all loved. We even got to feed and touch the elephants.
It is quite the heart-warming place, especially when we were able to watch them go to the river and swim and bathe.
The youngsters love to frolic like young children, splashing and rolling in the water. Many of the elephants have been injured and are unable to survive in the wild while others are released when possible.
If you'd like more information Google the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Team Sri Lanka is in Kandy today enjoying a free day!
Our overseas partners are doing a wonderful job of teaching us some history and showing us some of the cultural aspects of this wonderful country. What a privilege it is to be here.
We visited the temple of the tooth and saw preparations for the festival in 10 days (including bathing the elephants)!
We went to a batik factory and learned about the process and also saw a cultural dance show.
Tomorrow the distribution continues.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
What to say about today's adventures?! We were in Bibile today and handed out 800 bedkits to 800 enthusiastic children! We were greeted by a marching band that led up through an archway the children had made by hand.
Next came the speeches and our national anthem to which we learned there are more verses than I knew existed!
The dances . . . unless you are there, there are no words to describe how incredibly talented these young ladies and gentlemen are.
Next, a choir of boys sang “Take me Home Country Roads” which we joined in singing. We learned later that they had won first place in a competition with this song. They were amazing!
Then we were onto pictures and handing out bedkits! It was another day of big smiles and thank yous!
On to the next one!
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
We completed our third distribution in the Ampara district today and were warmly greeted by the community with floral leis, a traditional dance, and invited to light a welcome lamp. The act of lighting lamps is seen as a way to invite good fortune and blessings and signifies a warm and heartfelt welcome.
We delivered 530 bedkits to children that had been bused in from the surrounding areas, many making a two and a half hour bus trip to get here.
Our OVPs had the site set up for a well-organized distribution and with help from Prefects at the school all 530 bedkits were distributed.
It was quite a challenge for the overseas partners to coordinate everything. The buses were staggered in such a way that there weren't a lot of children waiting in the heat, and we had lots of young people helping to carry the bedkits out with the children. Our volunteers were a wonderful help, as always. These young rotarians are an inspiration as they are so energetic and also good with the children.
On the way back we made a surprising visit to what used to be the dump, and what did we find? Wild elephants. Rather like the bears in Canada, elephants eat whatever they can find, but unfortunately consume plastic bags as well. This is a huge concern because the bags do pass through the system. They are very smart and will break through electric fences by pushing trees over the wires to get where they want to go. Everyone was very excited to see them.
For tranquillity we visited the most amazing temple that was built up so high that you looked over the whole area. The view was incredible and words cannot describe the feeling of peace there.
We were honoured to have the opportunity to visit. Thank you to the overseas team for this experience. We say good bye to the Rotarians in Ampara and look forward to travelling to Bibile for the distribution tomorrow.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Greetings from Ampara, Sri Lanka
Today we completed the delivery of 1000 bedkits. Ampara is a central hub for the eastern region of Sri Lanka.
At our distribution today, we delivered kits to children coming from many rural schools. Over the two day period in Ampara we met children from 26 rural schools, including one from a local Muslim community.
We had terrific support from the local Rotary Club members including youth members, Poojani and Methmi.
Additionally, we continue to have great help from Indika, Heshan, Rashan and Sudarshan, representing the local footwear company, to deliver a new pair of shoes to each child.
The warm and humid climate of Sri Lanka can be challenging at times but the smiles of these beautiful children continue to bring us energy and joy!
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
We completed our 5th distribution today and delivered 500 bedkits at Bandagiriya P.S, Hambantota. We could feel the community’s excitement as soon as we arrived.
Our OVPs did a great job organizing the site creating an efficient process for the children to receive the items in the bedkit. Members of the Rotary Club of Kolonnawa joined the distribution and their assistance was greatly appreciated.
After the distribution our OVPs organized lunch with a visit to a local juice company where we learned how the business began with an idea to process sour sops, a local organically grown fruit, and quickly grew. The company produces many varieties of fruit juices, carbonated beverages, dehydrated fruit and wine, all made with locally organically grown fruit purchased from local farmers. The company has been recognized for their commitment in uplifting rural farming communities.
The team then drove across to the island to the East coast and look forward to starting distributions there tomorrow.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Today we were greeted by golden dancers and beautiful smiles.
We completed a morning distribution of 500 bedkits and an afternoon distribution of 500 bedkits as well.
Excited children were laughing and grinning while waiting patiently for their turn to have their picture taken and receive their bedkit. During the interview, which was my job today, parents were so very grateful for everything. When asked the question if there is anything we could add to help out a little more, they couldn't answer. It's more than we have ever had, so how do we ask for more, was the general answer. We managed to talk to the principals of one of the school whose only suggestion was, colored pencils are nice but regular pencils would be more practical. The best part of the day, for me, was the reaction of one of the older girls. As I handed her her bag she was surprised by its weight and she looked at me with a big smile and said ooooohhhhhhhh!
We finished the day hot and tired but ready and eager to do it all again tomorrow!
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
July 20th
Today was our first day in beautiful Sri Lanka. It started with a team meeting with our wonderful in-country partners, the rotarians of Kelaniya.
What a wonderful adventure we will be on. The rest of the day we travelled south through lush countryside with a stop at the most southern tip of Sri Lanka.
We can’t wait to see the children tomorrow.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Sri Lanka, 2025: July 21
Beliatta, Sri Lanka
Our first distribution was today and we successfully delivered 1200 bedkits!
We were welcomed with a special ceremony last night at our hotel and we continued to feel the warm embrace of Sri Lanka as we began the day with our wonderful Rotary partners.
Floral tributes, marching bands and beautifully costumed dancers celebrated the arrival of the volunteers and made it a truly special day!
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
We have arrived!
This has to be one of the best on-arrival greetings we have ever had. This trio met us right at the exit ramp from the plane, guided us through immigration, and on to baggage claim, making sure we had all our luggage. Zero problems with the arrival card. Many thanks to the Rotary Club of Kelaniya for easing our entry into Sri Lanka.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
Pre-Arrival
Team Sri Lanka is ready for take-off and eager for the busy distribution ahead. We are looking forward to working with our partners, the Rotary Club of Kelaniya. Stay tuned.
Team Sri Lanka, 2025
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 + SCAW 🇨🇦
And so the 2024 Sri Lanka bedkit distribution has come to an end.
7,000 children who shared their smiles with us, took home the gift so generously given by Sleeping Children donors. The Canadian and Sri Lankan teams will have many, many, memories of these past two weeks . . . children walking home with their bedkits; parent conversations out of the sun in the shade of a tree; that final 7,000th bedkit; and the hand waving thanks as a bus takes the children home.
To all the Rotarians, their wives, and countless volunteers, our heartfelt gratitude for all you have done, not only in the past two weeks, but for the many months leading up to Sri Lanka 2024. Oyata stutiyi, Nanri.
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
These pictures are a glimpse into the team's adventures during our Sri Lanka distribution.
A typical photo site
Entrance to a Hindu temple
Planting the future
Team members with invaluable translator at a parent meeting
Team effort setting up the bedkit for the photo shoot
We are all greeted with the lighting of the friendship lamp
Lunch is served!
Team Sri Lanka with the Rotary Club of Kelaniya, and many, many dedicated local volunteers. Thanks to you all!
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
I'm confident that there have been plenty of stories from the Sri Lankan 2024 team regarding smiling children, thankful parents and bountiful feasts provided by our hosts. Today, I'm sending pics of the cheeky monkeys that greeted me on my balcony this morning and later in the evening on my return.
The team completed two distributions today, one in Anthonypuram and the other in Murukkan. Along the drive it is not unusual to encounter herds of cows crossing the road, slowing our journey. The northern part of Sri Lanka is rural with an abundance of agriculture.
It is a difficult life but our gifts of bedkits make their lives a little brighter.
Team Sri Lanka, 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
Tears and rainbows.💖
Thoughts of the day:
During the bedkit distributions we all have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the children's parents. This helps us to understand their environment and home life. It can be a very emotional time and tears are often shed.
On one occasion we were interrupted by a lady requesting bed kits for her school (where the children were all orphans). Unfortunately this was not possible this year, we explained to her. But if she left us her contact details, we would pass them on. On hearing what the lady from the orphanage was saying, the mother that I was with, immediately offered to give up her child's gift in order that at least one orphan would have a bedkit. Despite having very little herself, she was willing to give up her gift.
This truly was a "rainbow moment" showing friendship and compassion (an example for all of us).
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." (Jimi Hendrix)
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
We had two small distributions today - the first just 180 kits and the second 320 this afternoon. We were warmly welcomed to both sites and entertained by dance routines by some of the students. The two pictures below show a grade 3 classroom.
The grade 3 teacher and a few of her students.
The last bedkit presented today.
Team Sri Lanka, 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
Today we did a distribution of 984 bedkits with the Jaffna Rotary Club, at St Patrick’s College in Jaffna, located in northern Sri Lanka.
The students from 9 different schools who received bedkits today are a reflection of the Hindu faith of this particular community. The area around Jaffna is in the process of being rebuilt after a 30-year civil war between the Sri Lankan government and Tamal extremists ended in May 2009.
After the distribution today, the Jaffna Rotarian president organized lunch at Ammachis, an outdoor venue made up of individual kiosks where women who are struggling financially are able to rent the spaces from the government. Each woman serves a different menu, keeping the profits for themselves.
In the evening, we attended a dinner hosted by the Jaffna Rotary Club as a thank you to SCAW for the bedkits distributed to children in the community.
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Jaffna 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
Yesterday the team arrived in Vavnia, where we completed 2 distributions. We were welcomed with beautiful smiles and then presented with flower garlands to wear around our necks.
After the first school distribution, we traveled a short distance to visit a home of one of the children. It was a modest home with 2 rooms: a kitchen and a bedroom.
The entire family of 5 slept in one room on the concrete floor. We saw that the family members use mats and blankets similar to the ones that we provide in the bedkit, to make their sleep more comfortable. This visit was a very humbling experience for the team as it showcased the importance of this work which supports healthy sleep for these children and their families.
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦
Our team thought we'd share just two of the many heartfelt messages we received from children who received your bedkit gifts.
The first handwritten note was read aloud by a girl at the school to kick off the distribution. Though her voice quivered, she was so proud of herself for delivering the sentiments in English. She was happy to share this message with you all.
The second note came from bedkit recipients. The teachers had students of all ages write a variety of adorable thank you notes which they presented to the Rotary Club of Kelaniya and the Sleeping Children team.
There have been so many moments of sincere gratitude from the kids, parents and teachers. Thank you to all our supporters!
Team Sri Lanka 2024
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦