Lanka Aluminium gives life to kids who have lost hope

Saturday, 18 February 2012 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lanka Aluminium PLC – Sri Lanka’s premier manufacturer of aluminium extrusions together with Rotary Club of Colombo - helps save lives of children through a unique humanitarian initiative called ‘Gift of Life’ where children suffering from chronic heart disease together with their parents are sent to India for heart surgeries at no cost.

In Sri Lanka, 15-20% of infant mortality is due to chronic heart disease. Almost 40% of children affected are very serious and cannot be cured unless treated surgically on time.

In this back drop, Lanka Aluminium has come forward to help save the lives of these children, bringing hope to the parents as well as the affected children.

With the Gift of Life initiative, Lanka Aluminium bears the cost as well as makes all arrangements pertaining to the journey including preparing the parents for an overseas visit.

Recipients of the Gift of Life initiative are selected under the guidance of cardiologist Dr. P. N. Thenabadu. The children selected are those who come from underprivileged backgrounds and who are in a desperate situation with no recourse to assistance and at a critical stage of the illness.

The Gift of Life program is executed together with Rotary International at the renowned Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in New Delhi.

The initiator of the Gift of Life Program Lanka Aluminium Managing Director Dinal Peiris said that the program couldn’t have been possible without the support of the Rotary Club of Colombo of which he has been a member for 15 years. “The program is also possible because of committed Rotarians such as Dr. Krishna and Dr. S. Iyer and his team of surgeons who perform the surgeries free of cost,” he further added.

Hospital charges relating to the surgery is funded by Rotary International.

The Gift of Life program was initiated in the year 2008 and up-to date 11 children have been treated and cured. Currently, another two children are being treated in New Delhi.

Lanka Aluminium has plans to continue this unique endeavour as the company believes in giving back something to the society.