Carrying on legacy of giving hope and compassion, Sun Match helps amputees walk again

The late T.R.R. Rajan

An amputee being gifted custom made prosthetic limbs

Sri Lanka, experiencing the impacts of COVID-19, is faced with the unfortunate reality that many people who are amputees do not have health insurance and the financial means to cover the high cost of

prosthetic needs.

Sun Match Company, the producers of the leading brand ‘Soorya,’ partnered the #helpthemwalk again project way back 17 years ago to provide prosthetic care to amputees who are faced with livelihood challenges which is done with attention and a lot of love and care as per the vision of their founder T.R.R. Rajan.

To mark the 17th death anniversary of the founder, on the 31 January Sun Match donated prosthetic limbs to needy patients at the Centre for Handicapped in Kandy. The selection of the beneficiaries were done where the amputees had been identified way before the event and all specifications obtained to ensure that each of the prosthetics were custom made.

Speaking at the event the founder’s daughter, Gowri Rajan, the Director of Sun Match and World Bank/WIM award-winning business personality, said: “The goal was a simple one – to help people in need to walk again.”

“Losing a limb is a tragic experience for anyone and is likely to cause significant disruption to many aspects of a person’s life which can have an impact on one’s occupation, relationships, and even leisure. Hence just like my father used to advocate to always give a person a life and he will then give back to humanity one day, the mission of Sun Match is to restore dignity and self-confidence for those who have experienced such a loss,” said Rajan. 

“The project so far has made an impact by 142 people gaining the opportunity to lead an independent and dignified life with the ability to walk again. This year as well, whilst the world fell into turmoil due to the pandemic, we ensured that we continued with our mission in supporting amputees who needed it the most, to gain the ability to once again participate in meaningful life activities,” said Chairman Deshamanya Suri Rajan, the younger brother of its founder. 

A typical prosthetic limb with a realistic appearance that helps users hide the limb loss is known to support the confidence and the potential to create a positive image of disability. The company’s aim therefore is to support amputees re-engage in their life’s activities and demonstrate to the amputee and their families that the loss of a limb does not define them nor hinder the ability of having a full life, said company sources. 

The Sun Match Company was birthed by late T. R. R. Rajan nearly four decades ago, subsequently becoming a powerful household brand, and today is trusted by every homemaker. It goes down in the annals of history as the first wax-coated safety match manufactured in Sri Lanka.  

The Sun Match product range includes a selection of incense sticks of 14 different variants, Soorya candles, toothpicks and the latest addition of Sun Hygiene brand of disinfectants. Each of the products has been recognised for its superior in quality and safety and proven to be consumer friendly. 

The late Rajan who was known for his philanthropy held the Chairmanship of the Centre for the Handicapped for a number of years, during which time globally-reputed agencies such as USAID and NORAD partnered the Centre and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Rajan together with others on the Board of Management of the Centre for the Handicapped gave the required foresight and leadership during this early period which has now resulted in this centre being the premier centre in the entire island providing the full range of services and mobility devices to poor physically-handicapped persons.