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 🇨🇦
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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 🇨🇦