EDUCATION
- From 2009 to 2014, LSF provided financial assistance and equipment for a vocational training centre that taught electrical motor winding and house wiring for differently-abled school leavers, managed by Saviya Development Foundation at Matara, Southern Province. The assistance included: instructor salaries, tools and consumables, tool kits for the students who successfully completed the course. At the completion of the 12 month course the passed out students were gainfully employed at local industries. At an average rate of about 15 students per year, LSF assisted about 90 differently-abled youths in completing this course.
- From 2008 to 2010, LSF sent over 15,000 second hand textbooks from Australia to the Bodhi Gnana Library, Kalutara, a community Library in Western Province.
- From 2004 to 2009, LSF provided operational expenses to Horizon Lanka Foundation, an IT education centre, in Mahavilachchiya, Anuradhapura, North Central Province.
- Between 2004 and 2009, LSF provided over 100 computers and ancillary equipment to establish IT education facilities in 12 rural schools in various Provinces of Sri Lanka.
- In 2005, LSF assisted in establishing a rural computer centre for a tsunami affected settlement in Bandaragama, Panadura – Western Province.
- Since 2004, LSF has provided books, educational material and classroom needs to several schools, including some affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT
From 2011 to 2016, LSF provided assistance to Centre for Disadvantaged Women at Dummalasooriya, Sri Lanka, with the assistance of Peninsula Motor Group, Bankstown. The centre was established in February 1997 and provides social services for women who have suffered gender-based abuse. It has two Homes: one for single mothers and pregnant women; the other for girls or women who have suffered abuse, but not pregnant. About 15 girls and women are resident at the Centre at any given time, and about 50 leave every year gaining employment and acceptance to families.
In September 2010, LSF, with financial assistance of Peninsula Motor Group of Bankstown and ALCOA (Australia), with guidance from the Sri Lankan Army, provided 50 bicycles to the resettled families in Ampakamam village, Mulathivu District. In an area with no public transport, children having to walk long distances to school, a bicycle was a valuable asset.
Providing artificial limbs for 20 needy persons through the Centre for Handicapped at Kundasale, www.cfhsrilanka.org enabling the recipients to be mobile and self-dependent, thereby relieving their relatives of the additional burden of care taking.
In 2010, LSF, with the Tzu Chi Foundation of Australia, participated in 4 bush regeneration and environment protection activities organized by local Councils, the latest being at Lane Cove river near Sugarloaf Hill, East Ryde, where about 20 LSF volunteers participated.
In 2008, LSF assisted a handicapped police officer to conduct IT workshops for disabled servicemen, by providing computers, computer table and chairs. The objective was to assist disabled serviceman to attain skills in IT to seek employment conducive with their physical condition.
In 2011, LSF donated 10 water pumps for newly resettled families in Ramanathanpuram, Mulathivu with the assistance of Peninsula Motor Group, Bankstown. These families had been displaced by years of conflict which ended in 2009. The water pumps were put to good use with the families reaping the fruits of their labour.
In 2012, 15 wheel chairs and 55 walking aides were provided to the Saviya Development Foundation (SDF) in Matara. This consignment of equipment was in addition to other assistance provided by LSF to SDF’s vocational training centre.
Between 2007 and 2009, LSF provided financial assistance to 78 households in the Southern, Uva, and North Central Provinces in Sri Lanka to install 40 Watt (standalone) Solar Electricity Systems. LSF provided the 15%down payment (approximately A$100) required to commence installation for each of the houses. The key sponsors of this program were: Combined Universities Cultural Night Committee 2006; Hunters Hill Rotary Club; and, Sydney Boys High School. The program was terminated due to the impact of the financial crisis on Financing Companies that provided the balance 85% funds to households as credit facilities.
HEALTH
From 2009 to date, LSF has worked with Centre for Handicapped, Kandy, Sri Lanka, to provide artificial limbs to needy recipients. To date over 80 artificial limbs have been provided through LSF assistance. The causes for disability have included: congenital; accidents; landmines / shell attacks; and, diabetic.
In May/June 2015, LSF shipped 26 electrical hospital beds with mattresses, 29 walking frames with wheels, 12 commode seats, 2 exercise bikes, and 9 walking sticks, donated by the Anglican Retirement Village, Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia. The shipment was cleared by the Rotary Club, Kuliyapitiya and distributed to the hospitals at: Kuliyapitiya, Kilinochchi, Dambadeniya, Hettipola, Kandy, Dambulla and Peradeniya.
In March/April 2017, LSF shipped 38 electrically controlled used hospital beds with mattresses donated by the Anglican Retirement Village, Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia. The shipment was cleared by LSF partners in Sri Lanka and distributed to hospitals in: Nikaweratiya; Muthur; Peradeniya; Kuliyapitiya; Kilinichchi, and Makanudra.
In July 2013, LSF shipped 22 used hospital beds, 44 used mattresses, and 5 used walking frames to Sri Lanka, donated by the RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia. The shipment was cleared and distributed free of charge by the Sri Lanka Air Force, to: Peradeniya Teaching Hospital; Kandy Hospital; and,
Sri Lanka Air Force Hospital, Katunayake.
In October 2010, LSF shipped 36 used hospital beds, including 7 hi-tech surgical beds worth over Rs 2 million, from Perth, Western Australia to the Northern Province health sector, Sri Lanka. The beds were donated to the Jaffna General Hospital.
From 2004 to 2009, LSF collected over 100 used hospital beds in good condition, including some ICU beds, from Australian hospitals and shipped them to Sri Lanka to be used in needy hospitals. Hospitals that benefited were Kandy, Warakapola, Kalubowila, Maharagama Cancer Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, and Lions Club Hospital for eye operations in Kadawatha.
In 2009, LSF provided 100 folding beds for the benefit of carers who stay with their children at Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
In 2009, LSF donated a blood analyser for cancer hospital, Maharagama.
In 2008, LSF provided a reading room / library for children’s psychiatric unit in Kalubowila Hospital, Colombo South.
In 2008, LSF funded the refurbishment of the Intensive Care Unit in Kandy Hospital.
In 2007, LSF, in joint venture with RegainSight, funded 100 cataract operations at Hambanthota hospital, and also provided a slit lamp to expedite screening of cataract patients in the area. Subsequently, in 2009, LSF funded a further 100 cataract operations in Moneragala District using funds provided by the Tharuna Youth Group of the Sinhalese Cultural Forum. Another 50 cataract operations were completed in Polonnaruwa District through Lions District 306B2, using fund provided by ALCOA Australia Ltd.
In 2005, LSF provided an emergency generator for Mahavilachchiya Hospital, Anuradhapura.
Bicycles ready for distribution
A recipient near her home
AGA Mulathivu, distributing bicycles
School boy testing the bicycle