Sri Lanka Sumithrayo “Say Yes to Life” Sumithrayo Outreach Programme

She said that the whole programme is run by volunteers other than in the Rural Programme where a few field officers are paid a stipend for working daily. In some villages, the women also have scooters and the men have motorcycles and one trishaw for transport. The Rural Programme works in the North Western Province and in the Southern Province. They get statistics from hospitals and the Police which help them pick the most vulnerable villages and currently they cover about 110 suicide-prone villages.

“We visit every single home in a village and build up a relationship but we maintain the confidentiality and don’t reveal to one family what happens with another family. Doctors,especially psychiatrists, work closely with us and also the Education Department so we can go to schools and conduct programmes on Mental Health.” Said Kumudini.

“Our main problem is locating suitable people in rural areas. They think that we have a lot of money like NGOS but they are very appreciative of what our Field Officers do. We also need cash to pay the Field Officers who work every day.” said Lakshmi.

She said that the Government gave them ten perches of land in Lunugamvehera and they use containers to provide office and accommodation.

Lakshmi said that from their Outreach Unit based at 60/7 Horton Place, their volunteers go twice a week to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital to befriend the parents while the children are in the operating theatre or in the Intensive Care Unit. She said that once a week they go to the

Victoria Home for the Incurables to the ladies’ section.

Then once a fortnight they go to the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) to befriend the students “The youth don’t want to show that they have problems. We have to tell them that it is okay to talk and not

to bottle up feelings.” She said. “Please call our head office on 011 2682535 on weekdays or e-mail us at slssumithrayo@gmail.com and we will share with you that you are not isolated,” said Kumudini, adding, “We are also ready to spread awareness by conducting programmes on prevention of suicide, developing coping skills to deal with everyday stress and strains of life. There are also those over seventy who commit suicide mainly due to loneliness. Suicide has no racial, religious or class distinctions. Despair,

anxiety, loneliness, depression and a host of negative emotions may lead people to suicide.”

The Sumithrayo Centres are located at Kandy, Bandarawela, Panadura, Matale, Mawanella, Negombo, Panduwasnuwara, Kurunegala, Kohuwela and Jaffna with Rural Programmes at Panduwasnuwara

and Lunugamvehera.

“You can help us- join as a volunteer and save lives or donate to help us to provide our services islandwide.” Concluded Lakshmi and Kumudini. 60/7 Horton Place Colombo 07, Call our head office on 011 2682535 on weekdays or e-mail us at slssumithrayo@gmail.com