Rotaract Sri Lanka successfully completes the first 6 months
Rotaract District 3220 Sri Lanka and Maldives, the local counterpart of the youth movement attached to the globally renowned Rotary International, recently embarked on the Rotary year 201718 under the leadership of District Rotaract Representat ive Rtr. PP Anuradha Senanayake. The year is structured around the theme Engage Rotaract- Redefine Friendship in an effort to efficiently utilise the fellowship among young Rotaractors to organize impactful projects and ensure a brighter future. Rtr. Anuradha, backed by a strong team and more than 3500 Rotaractors based in 65+ Rotaract Clubs spread around the country, plans to place her focus on significant areas such as Empowerment, Nourishment, Sustainability and Innovation during the year.
Rotaract 3220 recently concluded the first six months with an exciting line-up of projects and events that successfully laid the foundation to the Rotaract year. The year began with PETS and SETS, a special training programme organized for President Elects and Secretary Elects of various Clubs representing Rotaract District 3220 Sri Lanka and Maldives. On July 1, Rtr. Anuradha was officially installed as the District Rotaract Representative for the year with pomp and glamour at the 27th Rotaract District Assembly held at the Blue Water Hotel in Wadduwa. The signature Community Service endeavour of Rotaract 3220, Project Serve was initiated in a village in Horowpothana with the aim of developing it into a model village improving circumstances such as education, disease prevention, economic stability and water and sanitation.
Paalam was another initiative that was started during the first quarter, in the month of September placing emphasis on the need to bridge communities locally by spreading awareness about religious harmony. The project features three phases which includes visits to places of religious worship creating a platform for Rotaractors to share ideas about religious h a r m o n y. Rotaract 3220 also organized a special event to celebrate the Wo r ld Friendship Day on July 30 giving young Rotaractors an opportunity to highlight the importance of friendship in their lives. Rotaractors also participated in a Kite Festival and Walk Together with Rotary District 3220, the Presidential Task Force for Drug Prevention and Kite Sri Lanka to advocate for the need spread awareness about drugs and drug prevention among youth. An Open Mic Night was organised by the District team for Sports and Recreation with the aim of providing a platform for Rotaractors to display their talents on September 29. Rotaract also initiated the project “Let’s Start With Us” in an attempt to reduce the continuously rising rates of Dengue victims by spreading awareness about the disease with posters displayed in public and an online campaign.
The Rotaractors of Sri Lanka and Maldives also had the rare opportunity of meeting the current President of Rotary International, Ian Riseley during his official visit to Sri Lanka. A sit- down dinner with Rtn. Riseley was held on November 24 where several Rotaractors representing various Clubs had the chance to share the same platform with the RI President, to exchange ideas about the movement and its progress throughout the years.
An Inter- City Meeting was held on November 25 at the newly opened ShangriLa Hotel in Colombo where the District Rotaract Representative Rtr. PP Anuradha Senanayake explained the work Rotaract District 3220 has done so in the year 201718. RI President Ian Riseley was immensely pleased about the success the District has made and especially commended the calculation mechanism used to keep tabs on the number of volunteering hours spent by Rotaractors of the District. The Rotaract year 2017- 18 has so far indeed been an interesting and inspirational one for Rotaractors as youth geared up to achieve positive change in the society locally and internationally. Rotaract District 3220 Sri Lanka and Maldives looks forward to more brilliant endeavours in the upcoming months.
Paalam was another initiative that was started during the first quarter, in the month of September placing emphasis on the need to bridge communities locally by spreading awareness about religious harmony.