26 June 2019 08:16 am
The Janaposha Foundation said it has suspended its free meals project at hospitals with immediate effect saying that their noble intention of serving the poor and destitute had been misconstrued.
“With no choice but with a heavy heart and a grave sense of despair, we are forced to suspend operations immediately at the National Hospital, Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the Apeksha Hospital,” the foundation said.
In a statement, it said the foundation is also mindful of its responsibility towards the safety and security of its diverse employees who unstintingly worked together dedicating themselves towards this worthy cause.
“The suspension of the foundation’s services will ensure its staff is not endangered in anyway should acts of communal violence be directed towards them,” it said.
Unknown to many, the foundation said the Janaposha initiative has silently been serving the poor and underprivileged communities of Sri Lanka since 2012.
“As a truly Sri Lankan organisation, the Foundation has served all those who have walked through its doors. Since its inception, the Janaposha Foundation understood that visitors to the country’s main hospital were already burdened with a sense of helplessness; a majority travel from far corners of the country seeking healing or visiting sick family members, their sense of despair heightens as many stay hungry to save money or simply because they do not have time to look after themselves or know where to go for a simple meal.
With a firm belief that they should not go hungry, the Foundation initially began operations near the Colombo National Hospital, regardless of cast or creed, untiringly providing free warm wholesome meals to all who visited its centre.
With the realisation that many of the underprivileged visiting the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the Apeksha Hospital also faced similar dire situations, a daily struggle for food, the Foundation extended its services to these locations in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
To-date the Janaposha Foundation has annually served over half a million people irrespective of caste, race and religion who availed themselves of free food, sharing meals together in harmony.
The Foundation has continuously worked towards the well-being of the underprivileged it served and remains committed to ensure these poor caregivers are not marginalised.
Implementing the Janaposha Foundation’s vision to feed the poor involved the efforts of various stakeholders and the Foundation extends its sincere and heartfelt appreciation to all for the trust and confidence placed in this truly noble cause,” the statement said.