SriLankan Airlines spreads wings to Saiva Children’s Home

Saturday, 17 November 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two hundred and thirty eager hands accepted a gift pack each, with compliments from SriLankan Airlines, when a team of airline staff visited the oldest orphanage in the country, in Thilunelvely, Jaffna last week. Orphans from the age of four to 18, most of them victims of terrorism, are taken care of, by the Saiva Children’s home, since either one or both of their parents have died in the war.

SriLankan Airlines in keeping with their Corporate Social Responsibility Program to empower and assist underprivileged children, spent the day with these children. The airline also held a medical camp for the children, led by Company Medical Officer Dr. Anomi Jayasinghe and assisted by a team of doctors from Jaffna. The SriLankan team led by Regional Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Saminda Perera, included Manager Public Relations Ruvini Jayasinghe, Sales manager Charmaine Gunaratne, and a team of airline executives.

The day’s program ended with a cultural event where the children displayed their varying talents. Sales agent, Jaffna Mr. M. Thanaraj hosted the entire orphanage, its management and staff to lunch and dinner.

This pre-Deepavali event brought smiles and laughter to the children’s faces and some excitement to their lives, especially the little ones of four and five, who were delighted with their new clothes and sweets, which they discovered in their gift pack.

SriLankan Airlines’ corporate social responsibility program for children, ‘SriLankan Cares’ has spread its wings all over the country, to assist underprivileged children in their education. The airline has built classrooms and in some instances, entire buildings in three school’s the airline has adopted in Kalawana, Kalmunai and Hambantota. These schools were damaged by floods or the tsunami. The CSR program at Saiva children’s home is linked to SriLankan Cares. The airline has also taken a lead role in another aspect of CSR the green initiatives or planet friendly flights, where minimum damage to the environment is the responsibility and commitment of the airline.