Sanga visits Kilinochchi to distribute bicycles
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was given just three days holiday in-between tours to South Africa and Australia but was nevertheless determined to travel to Kilinochchi in the island’s war-affected North East to deliver 300 brand new bicycles to poor families in desperate need of transportation.
The bicycle donation was the result of a successful fundraising campaign called Sanga’s Bikes for Life which has so far raised US$50,000, sufficient funds for the delivery of 500 new bikes. The project, which is managed by the Foundation of Goodness (www.unconditionalcompassion.org), is planning a further delivery of 200 bicycles in March.
Bicycles provide countless benefits to a rural community member's life, allowing them access to employment, markets for sale and purchase of goods, water and food sources. Crucially, for thousands of rural children, the ownership of a bike is the key to a life-transforming education. Without transport many children are unable to attend school and they therefore remain trapped in a cruel cycle of poverty.
“It is really fantastic to handover the bikes and witness firsthand the positive impact they will have on families in the north,” Sangakkara said on his return to Colombo. “I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made a donation. Your donation has helped change a life for the better and that is a very special thing.”
Fundraising has been helped by both private and corporate donors with especially generous contributions from Touchwood Plantations, the leading plantation investment company in Sri Lanka, as well as Ready at Dawn Studios in Los Angeles and Grange Hotels who helped generously through their Indian Ocean Disaster Relief charity. The campaign was also very generously supported by Ananda and Sriya Fernando from Rennaissance Services based in Oman.
“We are really grateful for all the donations, big and small,” Sangakkara said. “It is the simple act of giving that is so special and so inspirational. The families I spoke to were so touched that so many Sri Lankans from the south and from overseas are reaching out to them like true friends and helping them build a new future after three decades of war and hardship.”
“I would also like to thank Deccan Aviation for helping me travel to Kilinochchi. Without their help the trip would have been impossible. The Sri Lanka Army have also been brilliant, helping us with logistical support. They are doing a huge amount of humanitarian work right now in the north east.”the Bike’s for Life campaign will continue during the next few months and the new fundraising target is 700 bikes. Anyone interested in making a donation can e-mail info@kumarsangakkara.lk or visit the website at www.sangasbikesforlife.com.
The Foundation of Goodness was set up by Kushil Gunasekera to provide essential services to his ancestral village of Seenigama. Since then he has been joined by a dedicated Board of Trustees and a committed team all working together with villagers and donors in the South (Seenigama) and North (Mankulam) to uplift the lives of rural communities in Sri Lanka. Their mission is to empower the less privileged rural communities, whilst inculcating the spirit of goodness, so that they may have equal opportunities to excel in life.