SANTAPAWS XTRAVAGANZA

 Area Vice President Cinnamon Colombo Hotels and General Manager Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Kamal Munasinghe with Chief Guest Dr Patrick McNamara, RAS Co-founder Anusha David and the RAS team

The Santapaws Xtravaganza, a Christmas Bazaar with a difference in aid of Rescue Animals Sri Lanka [ RAS ], was held recently  at the Cinnamon Grand. This was a bazaar that benefitted both animals as well as people. It was a Christmas Bazaar, where holiday cheer met a cause close to our hearts—Animal Welfare. 

An important feature of the Santapaws Xmas Bazaar was that RAS had given five complimentary stalls to human charities close to their hearts, namely The Indira Cancer Trust, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Helpage, Sisters At Law- a charity that helps abused women and girls, and The Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired [RCCI], for them to sell goods and raise funds for their own charities. The ‘Jax Dip’ a Lucky Dip named after the RAS mascot, a miniature Dachshund whose spine is broken in three places, is currently at the Cinnamon Grand Lobby for people to drop in a toy, an item of clothing or dry food, as all of these items will be distributed amongst the children at the Cancer Hospital and the Jinananda Orphanage in Wellawatte. 

The Chief Guest was Dr Patrick McNamara, Executive Director of United States Sri Lanka Fullbright Commission. On arrival at the Cinnamon Grand he was accorded a very unusual welcome by none other than little Jax, who presented him with a plaque with his footprints, thus serving to remind Dr McNamara always of this very special Bazaar. Kamal Munasinghe, Area Vice President Cinnamon Colombo Hotels and General Manager Cinnamon Grand Colombo, a staunch supporter of RAS and all its activities was also presented with a memento by Jax. RAS co-founder Anusha David and the RAS team, the Cinnamon Grand team and other partners of the Bazaar and well-wishers were also present. The Santapaws Xtravaganza wasn’t just a Bazaar—it was a chance to make a difference to all who inhabit this wonderful planet of ours, helping to make the world a little brighter for all creatures great and small.

Indu and Sanwada

Chief Guest
Dr Patrick McNamara, Executive Director of United States Sri Lanka Fullbright Commission with RAS Cofounder Anusha David and Jax,
the Rescue Animal 
Sri Lanka mascot

Ranjith and Ramani

I would also like to express my thanks to the Cinnamon Grand - Kamal Munasinghe, Dini and their amazing team without whom the SANTAPAWS XTRAVAGANZA would not have been possible. As for my little team - there were just 5 of us! Adrian, Julianne, Upul, Akry, and myself and they worked WONDERS ”. 
-Anusha-

Prithiva

Shanelle