Mayurabathy Amman Welfare Association-Wellawatta Nithyakalyani Jewellery joint welfare project in Ja

A welfare project was jointly organised and carried out by Mayurabathy Amman Welfare Association together with Wellawatta Nithyakalyani Jewellery in Jaffna recently.

The project, named ‘Helping the needy in Jaffna’, will focus on the development of the war-affected people in Jaffna by way of providing much-needed goods for their daily lives. It was initiated by the two organisations on the request made by Chief Minister (Northern Province) Justice C.V. Vigneswaran. The ceremony to distribute the items was held on 9 April at Vinayagar Wedding Hall, Kaithady under the patronage of the Chief Minister and attended by various distinguished guests from both organisations and the community.

The broader objectives of the project for the people of Jaffna include, helping individuals who are planning to do self-employment, initiate and encourage the education of children and to organise, undertake, coordinate, assist and promote integrated rural development.

A collection of 750 shoes, 400 schoolbags, 100 water bottles, 500 sarees, 10 ladies bicycles, 20 sewing machines, 50 steamers and accessories for string hopper making as a cottage industry and 5 electric water pumps, all totalling over Rs. 2 million, was handed over at to low-income family members at the ceremony.

Addressing the audience gathered at the ceremony, Justice C.V. Vigneswaran stated, “The people of Jaffna have gone through tremendous hardships due to the war. Although it has been almost seven years since the war has ended, there is still an urgent need to understand the development requirements of these people and initiate the developmental process through CSR Projects.” He thanked the two organisations for stepping forward as responsible entities and supporting the people of Jaffna to educate their children, build their industries and improve their lives.

“I would also like to request both organisations to look at doing a similar project in Kilinochchi. It is an area where many thousands of upcountry Tamils are faced with various hardships. It is time companies with the ways and means look at this area for their CSR activities,” he concluded.

Mayurabathy Amman Welfare Association was initiated by the President Sunderalingam who is also the trustee of Mayurabathy Sri Pathrakali Amman temple in Wellawatta. Mayurabathy Amman Welfare Association has commenced its services three months before. Within the three months of period this association has undertaken so many tasks, one was in Jaffna, and also there is an upcoming project being carried out by the association in Seth Sevana State home for elders in Mirigama to refurbish a ward, to accommodate very sick and elderly women. The opening ceremony of the refurbished ward at the Seth Sevana State Home for Elders was held on 7 May.