Sponsorship of Students from the IDP Camps:

SLANE plans to launch a program to assist teenage children from the IDP camps in Sri Lanka to attend High School up to the advance level.

A SLANE sub committee has been meeting together for the last several months looking for ways to support the people in IDP camps in getting them out of the camps so that they can begin to build their lives again. Members of this sub-committee have done consultatioins with some in Sri Lanka who have been involved in relief work and has a better understanding about the ground situation.

The plan is to send eligible children to one of two schools, St John’s College in Jaffna or Chudukuli Girls School in Jaffna. The commitment is to support a student who is beginning his or her O’level or A’level and to sponsor them for a four or two year commitment until they complete their secondary education. The commitment includes school fees as well as boarding fees. The cost per child per year is approximately 500 USD.

Mr. Priyakumar Handy at Baldaeus Theological School in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka will be working as the liaison with the children in the camp and SLANE. He has already secured 10 places in the A/L classes at Chudukuli Girls School in Jaffna and having conversation with the school authorities at St. John’s College in Jaffna.

The children will be selected from Pullmoddai ‘Sahanagama’ Camp. Presently there are 1987 students in the camp. Children will be selected by Mr. Priya Handy in consultation with the SLANE IDP committee on the following criteria: Students past academic performance, their mental stability and parents financial ability.

We currently have a commitment for ten students and are looking for more volunteers to sponsor additional children.

Further details will be announced in mid November with an expected start date of Jan 1 2010. If you like to sponsor a child or support financially or involved in the work of the committee or just need more information please contact any of the following by sending an email to slaneusa@gmail.com : Julius & Elizebeth Francis, Mark Alagakooon, Chitral De Mel, Dharman & Angelita Hensman, Janak Ambalangodage & Alice Locicero


Please Note:
SLANE sent the money raised at the Lowell Folk Festival for IDP's ($400.00) to Priya Handy to be used to buy milk powder for infants and to support the needs of the pregnant women and children in the Pullmoddai ‘Sahanagama’ Camp .

Moving Forward: Our Support to People in IDP Camps

Dear Friends:

Through the contacts of some of our Tamil members, we have established contacts with Mr. Priya Handy, head of the Bible College in Trincomalee to work as our liaison in channeling our support to people in IDP camps in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Priya Handy with his group of volunteers is presently working at Sahanagama camp at the 13th mile post on the Padaviya Road. They are committed to feed 2700 people with all three meals till the end of this year. They also feed the hospitalized in the Padaviya hospital. They do this along with World Concern http://www.worldconcern.org/. Their present cost is about a million and a half rupees monthly.

Although we have not collected lots of money from the Food sale at Lowell Folk Festival, we would like to send this money as soon as possible and plan on raising more money.

We are in the process of putting together a working committee not only to work towards supporting the people in IDP camps but also to offer the views/concerns/suggestions of Sri Lankan community in New England to find lasting peace in Sri Lanka where all citizens can live in dignity.

Please send me an email to: cdemel1771@aol.com, if you are interested in working as a member of this SLANE working committee.

At the Sri Lankan Day on August 15th there will be opportunities to either donate funds towards supporting people in IDP camps and/or supporting SLANE youth group with their project: ‘Pennies and Dimes for Better Times’ (flyer attached) to buy school supplies to children in IDP camps.

Thanking you in advance for your support.

Chitral de Mel
President
SLANE

Raffle - Round Trip Air Ticket: London/Colombo

Sri Lankan Day Raffle tickets are now available: $2.00 a ticket.

1st Prize – Round Trip Air Ticket: London/Colombo/London – Courtesy of Sri Lankan Airlines

2nd Prize – One night stay for two at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, breakfast included – Courtesy of Cynthia Gold Tea Sommelier, Boston Park Plaza Hotels

3rd Prize – Tea for two at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel – Courtesy of Cynthia Gold Tea Sommelier, Boston Park Plaza Hotels

4th Prize - $50 worth International Calling Cards – Courtesy of Comcast

5th – 7th Prizes - $25 worth International Calling Cards – Courtesy of Comcast

Raffle Draw will be at 7:00 PM on August 15th 2009 at NARA Park, Acton, MA

Part of the proceedings funds SLANE Children’s Charity Projects in Sri Lanka.

Word from Sri Lankan Airlines, USA:
You can now earn points towards free travel by joining FlySmiLes, the frequent flyer program of SriLankan Airlines. You can enrol yourself for FlySmiLes during the “ Sri Lankan Day” at Nara Park , Acton, MA and earn 1000 bonus FlySmiLes points towards your future travel benefits.

Sri Lankan Day in Acton, MA

This is an open invitation for all those who are interested about Sri Lanka, living in New England States: MA, RI, CT, NH, VT, ME to come to the first ever Sri Lankan Day Event on August 15th 2009 at NARA Park in Acton, MA.

There will be exhibit booths showcasing different aspects of the Sri Lankan culture and life styles of the people in Sri Lanka and few Sri Lankan food stalls including Sri Lankan rice and curry. The highlight of the event will be a Sri Lankan cultural performances that includes: Sri Lankan Drum performances and Sri Lankan traditional dances.

Entrance Free