The Office for Overseas Sri Lankan Affairs (OOSLA) has initiated the philanthropic project ‘Hope’ as part of its mandate, facilitating the donation of school materials to 271 needy students in the Malimbada Divisional Secretariat in the Mathara District. OOSLA hosted and coordinated a series of physical and virtual discussions with the Sri Lanka Buddhist Cultural Centre in Hong Kong (SLBCC_HK) – the donor, the Malimbada Divisional Secretariat that identified the needy students, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which introduced five philanthropic projects covering the whole country. The project in Malimbada is the first among the five projects that was successfully implemented recently.
Virtually joining the brief event hosted by the Divisional Secretariat, Ven. Sigiriye Summiththa Thero – the Founder of SLBCC-HK, expressed pleasure in accepting OOSLA’s proposal to support the needy students through a moderate contribution. This marks the Association’s first involvement in the deep South, specifically Malimbada. Thero encouraged the students to make their best efforts in achieving success in education despite the challenges and assured further support from the Association. Divisional Secretary Ms. Imesha Matharage explained the process followed by her team of officers in selecting the students who received the school items and appreciated the dedicated support given by OOSLA in coordinating with the donor and the Divisional Secretariat to help the students who are from underprivileged families. Officials of OOSLA who coordinated the project also joined the event and explained the objectives of OOSLA and its ‘Hope Project.’
Established following the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision post the 2022 interim Budget proposals, OOSLA functions as the central coordination point in engaging with Overseas Sri Lankans. It facilitates connecting OSLs as philanthropists, investors, knowledge, and skill contributors to ensure ‘brain gain’ and to promote dialogue among communities.
