It is with great pleasure that I present to you my report for the above year as the Hony. Secretary on behalf of the Board of Management of the National Council for Child & Youth Welfare of Sri Lanka (NCCYW) at this 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

At the Last Year’s Annual General Meeting our incumbent President Mr. Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya decided to be your President uncontested and hopefully he will be our President for the up-coming year as well with the provisions available in the NCCYW Constitution. We thank him dearly for his honourable contributions made to this institution in thought and deed. He was selfless in spending approximately Rs. 1.2 Million of his personal funds in uplifting the Child Development Centres (CDC) under the National Council.

During the period under review: 2018 – 2019, the National Council held their Board Meetings every Month on a 2nd Tuesday, except for the Month of December 2018 (X’mas) and April 2019 (New Year), but held Management Meetings instead during this two holiday months.Your Board decided to continue as stated in the last AGM Report to oversee the Child Development Centres/Homes as given below:

President  Mr. Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya – Moratuwa and Navodaya, Kandy
Past President   Mr. Mahanama Dodampegama – Pamunugama & Dummaladeniya
Vice President   Mr. Asanga Karunaratna – Wattegama, & Kularatne, Godakawela
Hony. Secretary   Mr. Hiran D. Molligoda – Madiwela & LOLC Care Home

The above arrangements to be reviewed and changed accordingly in the coming year.

Two (2) Matrons Meetings were held in Pamunugama and LOLC Homes, coupled with a Training Programs done by your Board Member Dr. Mahim Mendis (Motivational) and Mr. Herath (Law on Child Care) from the Western Province Child Care Services.

Matrons Meeting conducted at the LOLC Home in Madiwela were followed by a Training Program by Doctors: Mrs. K.D.D.R. Gunawardena & Mrs. Y.M. Rohana Chandra with the assistance of a Counselor, Mrs. Sonali attached to the Psychological Child Care Unit of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila. Quarterly Meetings were also held at the LOLC Child Development Centre with the Home Staff, Representatives from LOLC, and the Staff from the National Council.

Active Membership stands at 104, while total Membership is at 122. Regret that only 3 New Members joined your National Council during the year under review. I must again emphasize that the strength of any Organization, specially a charitable institution such as the NCCYW, lies in the enthusiasm shown by its General Membership. This is an area where we can much improve collectively in the years to come. Therefore an aggressive membership drive is envisaged.

Financial Administration was streamline with tighter controls with regard to expenditure, as the Country’s volatile situation has not helped us in obtaining funds. Even the Government Funds are either being delayed or reduced. Therefore, it is paramount that we acknowledge the yearly CASH Contributions made by the Adoptio Foundation of Switzerland, David Pieris Motor Company and Susila Budhi Dharma Society, while appreciating the Monthly reimbursements from Lanka Orix Leasing Company for our LOLC Boys’ Home in Madiwela and Hirdaramani International Exports (Pvt) Limited for our Girls Home in Pamunugama. Further, Your Hony. Secretary was able to secure an outright Donation of 25,000/- Pounds Sterling (Approx. Rs. 5.6 Million) from the Florence de Silva Memorial Trust Fund in the United Kingdom most recently, and therefore will reflect same in the 2019/2020 Accounts of the National Council.

The National Councils current website: www.nccywsl.org is currently being revamped by a professional Web Designer to meet the advanced challenges in the future, while hoping to integrate a back-end operation in time to come. This will enable us to seek more international funding for the Homes or for Individual Child or a specific program funding, while it will also assist to sell the Vocational Products made by our SURASA Special Needs Child Development Centres/Homes located in Levella Kandy, Madiwela and Moratuwa. I like to thank our Vice President Mr. Asanga Karunaratna who undertook to Fund the Website Revamping Project on behalf of the National Council.

Surasa Buk Maha Ullela 2018 was held at our Madiwela Home successfully, while each Child of our Girls’ Homes was given a frock in their Home Colour, while the Boys’ were given Shirts. I must at this juncture thank Mr. Sarinda Unamboowa for Donating a Sum of Rs. 200,000/- in Memory of his dear Mother for the above Avurudhu Costumes. We are grateful to Mr. Thanuja Pathirana for providing Lunch for the above Avurudhu Festival. Surasa Buk Maha Ullela 2019 was to be held at Pamunugama on the 26th of April but had to be cancelled due to the unfortunate Terror attacks of Easter Sunday.

Therefore, we proposed to have a Surasa Sports day soon in the near future. I must thank the Lanka Orix Leasing Company for Donating a Sum of Rs. 200,000/- towards the above festivities and with it we were able to produce the Surasa T/shirts for all our Surasa Children.

Surasa Song and the Surasa Panhinda 2nd Edition was a project initiated by Mr. Wimalasiri, while the funding was made available by the Hony. Secretary. Past Trustee Mrs. Charmaine Vanderhoeven – “Room to Read for Kids” Programme Organised by an Australian NGO held at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo for the younger Children of Pamunugama, Dummaladeniya and LOLC Care Homes, were a success, as the Children enjoyed their experiences in a 5 Star New Hotel in Colombo.

Information related to our CDC/Homes is given in brief below, as further elaborate details are available under the Home Reports of the respective Home Wardens & Matrons in the Annual Report of the National Council.

Dummaladeniya Child Development Centre located in the North Western Province in Wennapuwa underwent renovations to the Kitchen and the Pantry with a New Roof, Floor Tiling, Windows and Electrical Wiring.

Old Well was demolished making room for a Morning Washing area for the Children.

Old unused structure was demolished making room for outdoor activities for the Children.

We place on record the contributions made towards the Home by Mr. Lucas Andrew Fernando, the late Mr. Felix Fernando, Mr. Maxie Perera, Mr. Sunil Fernando and  Mr. Felix Fernando – the CEO of SIRIO LTD.

We acknowledge with thanks the support given by the President of the Divisional Secretariat Wennapuwa Mr. Jude Udugampola, Department of Probation & Child Care Services North Western Province and the Wennapuwa Police Station for their Support and Assistance when needed.

Kularatna Child Development Centre located in the Sabaragamuwa Province,  the immediate requirement of Staff Salaries were increased by the National Council,  while Extension to the Children Dormitory and a New Sick Room was constructed with the assistance from the Department of Probation & Child Care Services of the Sabaragamuwa Province, where the Home is located in the city of Godakawela.

LOLC Child Development Centre located in Madiwela is well maintained and funded by the LOLC Group of Companies.  We are very thankful for their continuous support.  A New Photocopy Machine and a Sewing Machine were purchased through the Govt. ADHOC Grant Facilities, while a Yamaha Organ was donated by Mr. Suharsha Liyanage and a Laptop by Ms. Kathryn Miles from UK.

Madiwela School and Home for Special Needs (Youth) the following Repairs were carried out to the School and Home. This includes the Dormitory Roof from the Donation given by our Trustee Mr. Asoka Weerasekera on his Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations, a Washing Room, Store Room, and a Sick Room was constructed within the Old Building.  New Deep Freezer, Pressure & Rice Cookers, Sewing Machines were purchased thru the Govt. ADHOC Grant Facilities and other Donors.

The following Companies and Persons need to be acknowledged for their Contributions made towards the Home:  Mr. C.J. Amarasooriya from England, Mrs. Serena Fernando from Dilmah TEA for donating 5Kgs of Tea every Month, SUBUD Foundation for Donating Funds for the CCTV Camera System, David Pieris Motor Company for their Monthly Contributions, and CIB Nugegoda Branch for Renovating the Home Shrine Room. Your Hony. Secretary contributed in repairing the existing Ceiling Fans and providing New Fans for the Dormitory, while repairing the Home Provision Store Room.

We should place on record the Excursion to the Sacred City of Anuradhapura organized by the Department of Social Services, while teacher of the Home Ms. Priyani de Silva provided the lunch.

Moratuwa School and Home for the Special Needs Children in Katukurunda Celebrated their 50^th Golden Anniversary last year with Pomp and Pageantry, while a much needed extension to their existing Kitchen was carried out by the American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (AAA/SL) where Your NCCYW Secretary is also the Secretary of the AAA/SL.

The following Donors need to be acknowledged:  Monthly Donations from Mr. A.Y.S. Gnanam, from Ms. Renuka Perera’s Pension Fund, Asian Gems (Pvt) LTD, while Cash Donations were received from Rotaract Club of Wellawatte, and the American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (AAA/SL).  The Department of Social Services was responsible for the costs of the rear Boundary Wall and many honourable Donations from our own NCCYW President who looks after the Home under his purview.

Kandy Branch of the NCCYW – Navodaya in Levella, Kandy, the Staff Monthly Salaries were Substantially increased, while our NCCYW President Mr. Warnakulasooriya donated a costly Brick Making Machine that was very useful for the Home to complete their Boundary Wall Project and to sell bricks to generate income for the Home. Navodaya is specializing in making many unique Vocational Products by its Children that will be displayed in our re-vamped Website soon.

Pamunugama Child Development Centre in Bopitiya Ja-ela, coming under Western Province is one of our Homes assisted by the Hirdaramani Group.  Most recently a new Security Hut, a Hall for Dancing and activities for the Children including Educational lessons, new Sewage System and Drains were constructed by the Hirdaramani Group for which we are ever grateful.  The Home received a new Deep Freezer and an Oven from the Govt. ADHOC Grant Facilities.

Other than the financial assistance by the Hirdaramani Group, the following Persons have to be acknowledged. Monthly Donation from Mr. C.I. Park, SMM Halcyon (Pvt) Limited, Mr. Mahanama Dodampegama, Mr. Kanagarajah, and Kingsbury Hotel Colombo for Colour Washing the Main Building and the Dormitory with Minor Repairs.

Wattegama Child Development Centre located in Kandy, coming under the Central Province Department of Child Care & Probation, the following improvements were done during the year under review and they included a Water Tube Well that was a huge necessity, while Repairs were done to the Provision Store Room, Boundary Wall and the interior of the Library Building.

A great necessity at the Home was the Children’s Cupboards. These Cupboards for each Child was Donated by the Tissa Molligoda Memorial Trust Fund initiated by your Hony. Secretary.

Following Persons and Associations should be recognized for the support rendered:

Mr. Lohan Ratwatte, Mr. Dudley Fernando, Mr. Ray Collings, Ms. Prasadi Jayasooriya and Susila Budhi Dharma Society donated a Deep Freezer, Oven, and Steel Cupboards.

We also thank Dr. Mrs. Gunatilake retired Director of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital in attending to the Medical needs of the Children, while acknowledging the contribution made by the Wattegama Home Watcher, the Late M.G. Ranasinghe, who served the Home for many long Years.

It is with profound sadness that we record the following deaths of the Surasa Family:

1. Mrs. Ranjani Mendis who was the Warden of our Moratuwa Home for Special needs Children for many years having performed yeomen service towards the up liftment of the Home.
2. Life Member Col. G.L.F. (Rtd.) Leslie Marshall
3. Life Member Mr. Sunil Karunanayake

I take pride in thanking our dearest President Mr. Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya for his personal and professional interest shown towards the upliftment of our eight Child Development Centres throughout the island, while appreciating his significant Financial Contributions made towards the National Council during the year under review. I thank the Past President Mr. Mahanama Dodampegama for his valuable advice & guidance when required and the Treasurer Mr. Buddhika Weeratunga’s Professionalism in managing the Finance of the National Council in meeting the ever increasing expenditure, while keeping the Homes well maintained with the available Funds for the benefit of our Surasa Children.

I also take this opportunity to thank the rest of the NCCYW Board Members and the Trustees: Mr. Asoka Weerasekera, Mrs. Sunjeevani Kotakadeniya and Mr. Fayaz Saleem for their Support and Assistance when needed. Special thanks to our Vice President Mr. Asanga Karunaratna and Board Member Mrs. Dhushyanthi Nugawela Wijeyawardana for their help when called upon to do so.

Without the support of all, I wouldn’t have been able to execute my duties as the Hony. Secretary of the National Council for Child & Youth Welfare of Sri Lanka (NCCYW/SL).

I will be failing in my duty if I do not thank the Head Office Staff: Mr. Wimalasiri, Mary, Janani, Prasadini & Mahamani for the Work Performed during the Year. A very Special Thank You for all the Matrons, Asst. Matrons, and rest of the Members of the Home Staff and Teachers/Principals of the respective Child Development Centres under the National Council. Further I would like to acknowledge the most valuable voluntary contributions made by Mrs. Tania Dharmadasa, Mrs. Minal Dedigama Ranatunga and Mrs. Yvonne Almeida of the Madiwela Home Management Committee and Mrs. Mahiya Rafeek, Mrs. Susanjalie Fernando, and Mrs. Susima Peiris of the Moratuwa Home Management Committee. While appreciating the contributions of Mrs. Ranee Ellepola, Mr. Gaminee S.B. Ratnayake and rest of the Navodaya Special Education Residential School Home Committee in Lewella Kandy. The Kularatna Home Management Committee of the Kularatne Home in Godakawela is greatly appreciated, while appreciating & acknowledging the efforts of the LOLC Care Home Management Committee headed by Mr. Chumley Ranatunga, Mrs. Mallika Abeykoon and the person in charge of the maintenance at LOLC Mr. Wishma Rajapaksa along with Mrs. Minal Dedigama Ranatunga and Tania Dharmadasa.

I also take this opportunity to place on record the valuable assistance I have received from Mr. Dhananjaya Jayakody of the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) and from the Department of Child Care & Probation of the Western Province, The Department of Social Services, Provincial Secretariats and Child Care Departments, and many other Governmental Departments in the Western Province, Central Province, North Western Province and the Sabaragamuwa Province.

The Officer in Charge of the Police Stations in Wennappuwa and Wattegama is to be acknowledged by their assistance when needed. We also thank Lanka Wall Tiles for Donating the Floor Tiles for our Homes in Dummaladeniya and Moratuwa.

National Council’s focus for the New Year: 2019/2020 should be to introduce new methods of Fund Raising using the Website, Facebook and available IT Tools, while approaching International Children Donor Organizations in the likes of UNICF, UNICEF and other International Children’s Donor Agencies. Also undertake to negotiate with the Private Sector Companies to help us through their CSR Projects to carry out the remaining tasks for our Child Development Centres in Wattegama, Kandy and Dummaladeniya, Wennapuwa. These two Homes will need your help in the future.
To accomplish the above, the LOLC Group of Companies will be funding a Donor Booklet named ‘A Gift of Hope’ with the assistance obtain by a Marketing & Advertising Agency: EmageWise.
Lastly, if I had in anyway misspelt any persons Names or had omitted in thanking same, my sincere apology.

Thank You.

Hiran D. Molligoda
Hony. Secretary
Year : 2018/2019.