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THE STORY OF OUR CLUB

The Lions Club of Kolonnawa was extended by the Lions Club of Cinnamon Gardens of the Lions District 306-B, in December 1979. After five months of existence, the International Association of Lions Clubs, considering the Club to be legally constituted conforming to its requirements, the CHARTER was presented on 1st May 1980. The Club has completed 41 years of humanitarian service, by May 2021.

The initiative in forming the Lions Club of Kolonnawa was led by Mr. WamasenaGodawatte and MrDayananda Perera and few other philanthropists of the Area. They got the assistance and advice from Lion Kumar De Silva of the Cinnamon Gardens Club who happened to be Mr. Godawatte’s brother-in-law. The District Governor in office at that time was Lion Dr. W A Ferdinands. Lions, Ed Jayatunga, AnandaWijesekara, BertyWeerasinghe, and Puvamanasinghe of the Cinnamon Gardens club also played major roles in forming our Club.

The club started with 23 members and Lion M D W Jayawardena elected as the Charter president, and Lion K Liyanage as the Secretary. Unfortunately, none of the charter members are with us today, the last of them being Lion Asoka Perera and Lion K. E. Perera both of whom passed away in 2020 completing an immense service as great Lions. We also lost two senior Lions namely Lion DhanapalaAthukorala& Lion ShyamsiriThalpawila during this pandemic period.

Decided by the multiple district MD306, during District Governor Lion Vernon Botejue’s time, our club was transferred to District 306A, subsequently to District 306C, again on re-districting to 306 C1. We have the unique distinction of being in four Lions Districts during the Club’s existence. We were the one of the first clubs in the District to conduct the meetings in Sinhala Language, and also to publish a news bulletin “SIHASUNA” in Sinhalese. We were the first ever club in the MD306 to induct a wheelchair bound Lion the late Raja Gajadheera. At each annual convention the Club performance in administration and service projects is highly appreciated. Always in the recent past Lionistic years, more members of the club were serving in the District Cabinet holding key positions.

 

The Club also had the distinct history of conducting useful long-standing continuous projects. Lion Dhanapala Athukorala started a project in 1986 conducting a medical clinic monthly for malnourished children at Kolonnawa. This provided basic medicines, food supplements and medical examinations. Due to the recent pandemic this project has to be stopped. The “Greta-Kramer health Clinic” a similar project started in 1987, by late Lion Shelton Perera & Lion lady Myrtle was also abandon in 2009 due to difficulties. This was named so, as the funding was froma friend of Lion Shelton Mr. Kramer, made in memory of his wife Greta.

In January 2007, at the initiative of Lion Lady Priyani De Silva & her spouse late Lion M U M De Silva, Club started providing breakfast to aged and disabled persons who come to collect their monthly dole from the sub-post office. At the beginning all cub members took turns in doing this project, but last year President Lion Sandhya and spouse Lion Raja volunteered to continue the project themselves. In addition to breakfast they get clothes, medicines, and extra money with the blessings of Lions. The other continuous project started by Lion Wayaman Uragoda in 1997 is to provide books and uniform materials annually to Dhaham Pasal students of Kande Viharaya. Lions assist him providing funds for this project which creates a great public image for the Club.

In the Lionistic Year 2021/2022, the Lions Club of Kolonnawa was declared a Model Lions Club by the Lions Clubs  International. It is the 1st Model Club in District 306 C1. Additionally, in the same year, the Lions Clubs International Award for " Club Giving $250 per member average" was presented.

 

 

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