Helplanka, a UK registered charity, has teamed up with Dimuthu Foundation of Pambala Kakkapalliya in Sri Lanka to help disadvantaged rural communities.
Their collaboration was celebrated with a special event to commemorate the 90th birthday of Dhanasena Siriwardene Goonetillake, who was born and lived in Kakkapalliya and is the father of Sampath Goonetillake (Sam) the chief executive and founder of Helplanka.
Tea party and dry rations were distributed among the children.
On 15 January, 90 Children from a remote village in Kawatiyawatta Wattakalliya, near Chilaw, were treated to a tea party and dry rations were distributed at the event, organised by Dimuthu Foundation which was attended by both Buddhist and Catholic clergy. Relatives of the Goonetillake family, from nearby Kakapalliya, also attended.
Both Helplanka and Dimuthu Foundation have been helping disadvantaged rural communities for over 15 years and have announced the commencement of joint initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty through education.
Sam Goonetillake, speaking from London said: “I am extremely grateful to Fr Jude Fernando and the amazing staff of Dimuthu Foundation for their hard work and devotion in expertly organising the event and look forward to working together in the future. It was wonderful to see the children looking so happy and enjoying the party and a pleasure to be given the opportunity to contribute to the sterling work of Dimuthu Foundation amid challenging circumstances in forgotten remote areas of Sri Lanka."
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The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club. 