Sri Lanka Federation of University Women Celebrates International Women’s Day

SLFUW Members at Child Development Center 

Monetary Assistance for Medical Treatment

The 84-year-old Sri Lanka Federation of University Women (SLFUW), under the President, Colonel Dr. Udula Krishnaratne, ably supported by her team, celebrated International Women’s Day by giving true meaning to the UN theme ‘Accelerate Action’.  

It carried out a full day’s program for the benefit of women of all ages, from the ‘first day of birth’ of a baby girl to women over 75 years, all coming within the category of the ‘underprivileged and disadvantaged’ in our society.  

 The programme was intended to promote education for girls from the primary to the tertiary levels, provide better sustenance to needy families, ease economic hardship and help improve the overall health of women and girls, states the President.  

After the customary lighting of the oil lamp, the National Anthem, two minutes’ silence, and a brief welcome address by President Dr. Krishnaratne, the day’s programme began. with the award of scholarships. The first awards were to women undergraduates from different faculties in the Universities of Colombo, Sri Jayawardanepura and Ruhuna. It was followed by scholarships to bright pupils from schools in the Ampara and Gampaha Districts. Monetary support was also provided for medical treatment to a Grade 4 child from the Kurunegala District who is suffering from leukemia, she said.  

The visually impaired women invitees were also given cash donations. A ‘special needs’ child resident in the vicinity and other residents on Kitulwatte Road and Rodney Street were also given grocery packs and cash donations. One of the undergraduate awardees, a visually impaired lady, sang songs to entertain the gathering while refreshments were served to all.  

The afternoon programme began with a pre-arranged visit to Castle Street Maternity Hospital, where the first baby girl born that day, 8th March, and her mother, received gift packs of essential items and a cash donation.  

The final item for the day was a visit to Maithree Children’s Development Centre in Borella, which houses twenty-four destitute girls, aged 7 to 18. The SLUFW President spoke to the children informally. Subsequently, an interactive session with an experienced lady Psychologist made them talk and sing and enjoy themselves. Gift packs were presented to all the children, and evening tea was provided as well, she concluded.