Trincomalee senior citizens honoured by Rotary Club

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 February 2003, 21:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Rotary District Governor Mr.S.Pathmanathan Saturday evening honoured four senior citizens of Trincomalee at an event held at the Rotary House in Trincomalee. The Trincomalee Rotary Club organized this event for the first time in its history, its President Mr.R.Thirukumaranathan said.

"Trincomalee Rotary Club has selected the right persons at right time to be honoured for their yeoman services for the society through their respective fields. We are setting a precedent in honouring theseheroes in their own place of birth," said Rotary District Governor Mr.Pathmanathan who also holds the post of the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury in the Government of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's Rotary Governor N.Pathmanathan handing over scholarship award to a university student from an underprivileged family in Trincomalee. ( L-R) behind row Trincomalee Rotary Club Secretary S.Jayashankar and President R.Thirukuamaranathan.

The honoured senior citizens are: attorney-at-Law Mr.M.K.Sellarajah, senior Attorney-at-Law in the Trincomalee Bar Mr.O.L.M.Ismail, Retired Assistant Government Agent Mr.V. Sivalingam and a Tamil novelist "Thamilmani" Ms Baleswary Nallaretnasingham.

Mr.Sellarajah, Mr.O.L.M.Ismail and Mr.V. Sivalingam were honoured with golden shawl by the president of Trincomalee Rotary Club Mr. Mr.Thirukumaranathan and Rotary Governor Mr.Pathmanathan presented them with mementos. Ms Baleswary Nallaretnasingham was honoured with golden shawl by the first lady Mrs. Mangles Pathmanathan and Rotary Governor Mr.Pathmanathan presented her with a memento.

An underprivileged student selected for university education was awarded a scholarship by the Trincomalee Rotary Club and the award was handed over to him by Rotary District Governor Mr.S.Pathmanathan. He handed over sewing machines to five rural women under self-employment project mooted by the Trincomalee Rotary Club.

The Trincomalee Rotary Club organized the event coinciding with the official visit of its District Governor Rotarian N.Pathmanathan to Trincomalee Saturday.

Rotary Governor Mr.Pathmanathan said in his speech that "community based service is needed today. Our service in some small way satisfies the needs of the society." Governor Mr.Pathmanathan commended the Trincomalee Rotary Club as the most vibrant in the country.

President of the Trincomalee Rotary Club Mr.Thirukumaranathan in his welcome address said that his club has rendered valuable services to the people of remote villages such as Eachilampathu, Mawadichenai and Verugal by organizing mobile health clinics.

Secretary of the Trincomalee Rotary Club Mr. S.Jayashankar presented a report of the activities of the Trinco Rotary club.

Honoured senior citizens are seen (L-R) Mr.V.Sivalingam, Trincomalee Rotary Club President Mr.Thirukumaranathan, Rotary Governor Mr.N.Pathmanathan, Ms Baleswary Nallaratnasingham, Mr.M.K.Sellarajah and Mr.O.L.M.Ismail.