Company helps poverty relief drive in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO－Shantha Jayasiri lives in Pannila, a remote village in western Sri Lanka, about 59 kilometers from Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. Jayasiri is one of the several villagers there in the district of Kalutara, whose income is not sufficient to meet life's basic needs. In the past, when his daughter, Vishmi Sadeesha, started a new school year every January, Jayasiri had to go around and borrow money from other people to buy stationery and other school materials.

It was not an easy task, because almost everyone else in Pannila is as poor as Jayasiri, with little or no extra money to help others in need.

However, fate has been smiling on the people in the village since it has been included in the China Merchants Silk Road Hope Village plan, sponsored by the China Merchants Group.

The project aims to transform poor villages in Sri Lanka, and put them on the road to sustainable development.

Jayasiri and other villagers no longer have to worry about their children's school supplies. The elderly too will be looked after under the plan.

China Merchants Group staff at the Colombo International Container Terminal Co Ltd visited Pannila at the turn of the year and distributed school bags and stationery to about 300 students, who began a new school year this month.

In addition, 119 elderly people over the age of 70 also received gift packages comprising daily necessities, nutritional and health products.

At the gift-awarding ceremony held in the village, H.A. Gunathilake, president of the Pannila Village Development Committee, expressed his appreciation on behalf of the nearly 2,000 villagers, saying that Chinese companies truly understand the needs of poor Sri Lankan villagers.

Jayasiri's daughter, Vishmi, was beaming with happiness. Vishmi said: "I am very glad to have received new stationery and a school bag, which makes me look forward to the new semester. All my classmates have received gifts from Chinese companies."

One of the elderly beneficiaries of the charity event, 73-year-old Roselin Abeywickrema, expressed her appreciation to the Chinese people for their care and concern toward the elderly in the village.

Mu Nan, chief financial officer of Colombo International Container Terminal, said: "Education at the primary and middle school levels helps villagers achieve their dreams and develop their village."

According to reports, Pannila is the group's first targeted poverty alleviation village in Sri Lanka. Mu thanked the elderly for their contribution to the development of the village and local society, and said that the group will pay special attention to improving the living standards of the elderly and caring for their health.

Xinhua