Sri Lanka Insurance(SLIC) achieved a significant milestone upon the successful completion of its latest project ‘Call to Donate’, launched in October with the unifying call to all Sri Lankans, urging them to join SLIC in aid of the Paediatric Oncology unit of The National Cancer Institute Maharagama (NCIM), to raise funds to help children diagnosed with cancer. 

Within a span of one month, the SLIC ‘Call to Donate’ project received over 350,000 missed calls and in return SLIC will donate Rs. 3.5 million to the Oncology unit of the National Cancer Institute Maharagama. 

The donation of Rs. 3.5million will be spent towards a C Pap Machine (CPAP), Prosthesis and essential medicine for the Paediatric Ward of the NICM. A CPAP machine helps cancer patients breathe more easily during sleep, ensuring that the airway does not collapse when breathing. While suffering from cancer, at times certain body parts must be removed if detected with cancer and Prostheses are used to help a patient look as though the body part has never been removed and to help the patient function normal as possible. 

Commenting on this significant milestone Chairman of SLIC Hemaka Amarasuriya said, “I am extremely pleased with the successful outcome of this campaign and extend my sincere gratitude to all Sri Lankans who contributed to this worthy cause.  The National Cancer Institute Maharagama is the only place with accessible treatment option for children suffering from cancers. We are pleased that the funds contributed will assist the hospital cope with the high-volume of patients coming in and are able to help the hospital serve them better to save many more young lives.” 

Further commenting on this project, Dr. Damayanthi Peris, Paediatric Oncologist, NCIM said, “We appreciate the efforts taken by SLIC to conduct a project of this nature. We are in the process of purchasing the C Pap machine along with some of the essential medicine that is needed and in assisting parents of these children, to buy Prosthesis.”