The Salvation Army launches Annual Appeal

The Salvation Army has launched its Annual Appeal to raise funds that will help resource its residential and community services across the country based on the key platform, ‘You can create a better tomorrow’.  

The organisation has been highly committed to fighting kidney disease which has seen significant increase especially in the North Central Province. It is building ‘safe water’ wells for communities in the Polonnaruwa District and its mobile medical clinic is screening communities for early detection of kidney disease. These initiatives are conducted in partnership with local communities and health officials of the area.

To date, The Salvation Army has completed eight large-scale community wells, outfitted with industrial filtration plants. Wells nine and ten are under construction and research and planning for others has been completed. More than 8,000 people have been directly impacted so far and the provision of safe water has also augmented community life as it springs up around the wells. For long-term sustainability, wells are managed and maintained by the communities with the nominal fee of one rupee per litre of water paid by the users. 

In addition to this preventative measure, as of August 2017 The Salvation Army’s mobile medical clinic had screen-tested at least 20,000 people for kidney disease, with over 1,000 testing positive. Early detection is critical for people to enjoy relative normalcy.  

Chairperson of The Salvation Army’s newly appointed National Advisory Board Eraj Wijesinghe and Head of the Bartleet Group of Companies, reflected on the theme of the Annual Appeal:  “All of us want a better tomorrow – for our own lives, for our families, for our communities and villages, for the nation as a whole.”

“This is the reason The Salvation Army exists and has given continuous service to the people of Sri Lanka since 1883. That’s 134 years, a serious, longstanding commitment to our peoples. The organisation has been with us through our hardships, crises and natural disasters, giving its services to people from all backgrounds – without discrimination – and always giving hope where it’s needed most.” 

He added, “When The Salvation Army says to Sri Lanka, ‘You can create a better tomorrow’, the overarching calling is that we can do this together. In fact, we can become partners with The Salvation Army in creating a better tomorrow by donating to its Annual Appeal – by investing in the transformation of people’s lives and circumstances across the country. The Salvation Army is looking not only to continue its existing services, but to extend these services. The truth is that we can achieve much more by acting together.”  He stated that his hope that this message would resonate across all sectors of Sri Lankan life – among private citizens, business and corporate leaders, other community and religious leaders, and provincial and national ministers. 

The Salvation Army’s work in the Polonnaruwa District is its largest current project among many projects, large and small. In addition to these projects, however, the group operates more than 40 outstations across the island, providing year-round support to individuals, families and whole communities, meeting diverse spiritual, emotional and physical needs. 

The Salvation Army’s longstanding Residential Services for mothers and babies, children, young adults and elders continue to provide a vital solution to people often in urgent need of help and a fresh start, and its Disaster Services are always on hand to help Sri Lankans during times of crisis. This year alone The Salvation Army brought relief to hundreds of survivors of the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse in April and many communities during the May floods and mudslides. Currently, in partnership with local villages in the Kalutara district, hundreds of wells that have remained unfit for use since the floods, are being cleaned.

“These are extensive services,” explained Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka Lieutenant-Colonel Suresh Pawar. “But the fact is that there is much more we could do with your help and partnership in creating a better tomorrow for Sri Lankans. Each year, we have a sizeable deficit and the funds from the Annual Appeal help bridge that gap. If you have the means, please give generously.” 

Donations to The Salvation Army’s Annual Appeal can be made online at www.salvationarmy.org/sri/donate or by cheque made out to The Salvation Army, and posted or delivered to: The Salvation Army, 53 Sir James Peiris Mawatha (PO Box 193), Colombo 2 with full details for receipting purposes. Donations are tax deductible.