ROTARY SOLIDARITY WALK: “We are standing up for the humanitarian aspect of the crisis”

Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs walking towards Galle Face calling out for accountability, transparency and freedom of speech

Standing in solidarity with the people

Rotary District 3220 held a press conference on May 8, 2022 at Radisson Hotel. Rotarians at the press conference voiced out their demands for good governance. They also called upon the state, private and public sectors to be accountable and transparent. The Rotary District 3220 shared how they have worked towards alleviating the burden of the crisis on the citizens. The speakers at the Press Conference were K.R. Ravindran (Past President- Rotary International), Aruni Malalasekera (District Governor 2021/2022), Dr. Rohantha Athukorala (District Advisor- Public Image), Pubudu De Zoysa (District Governor-Elect 2022/2023), N.R Gajendran (Chairman- College of Governors), S. Karunakaran (Past District Governor), Akila Wijetunga (District Rotaract Representative) and Ajith Weerasinghe (Chairman- Rotary Solidarity Walk). Following the press conference, the Rotarians along with Rotaractors and Interactors began their solidarity walk from Marine Drive (opposite Kollupitiya Railway Station) towards Galle Face.   

“We have a stake in Sri Lanka, we have spent billions on the country’s good will through our service projects,” shared K.R. Ravindran, former President of Rotary International. He shared these thoughts at the press conference held on May 8 at Radisson Hotel. The press conference was held prior to the walk towards Galle Face conducted by Rotary District 3220. Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors participated in the walk which started off at Marine Drive, opposite Kollupitiya Railway Station and concluded at Galle Face.   

Rotarians demand for good governance

The Rotarians at the press conference demanded transparency and accountability from the state, private and public sectors. Ravindran shared that laws have to be brought in where anyone engaged in corruption whether be it citizens, parliamentarians or corporates would be sentenced to life and their assets confiscated. He also stated that the Rotarians want good governance in the country. “We are looking for a governance where the government is dishing out truth, a governance which is fair to all concerned, a governance which will bring in goodwill amongst communities, a governance which is ethical and beneficial to all.”   

Responding to queries that Rotary is an apolitical organization and that the Rotarians walking in solidarity could be seen as going against the principles of Rotary, N.R. Gajendran, Chairman- College of Governors mentioned that the philosophy of Rotary is peace, goodwill and world understanding. “Can you have peace if you don’t have food? Can you have peace if you don’t have medicine? Can you have peace if you don’t have diesel and petrol to travel? This country is our home, this is our life and livelihood. We are standing up for the humanitarian aspect of the crisis. This is not politics. We are standing up for our rights and showing solidarity,” he explained. Dr Rohantha Athukorala, District Advisor- Public Image, emphasized that poverty levels would rise due to the current crisis. He mentioned that recent research shows that 5.8 million people in Sri Lanka are almost close to poverty levels. “These are humanitarian crises that Rotary can stand up for.”   

Rotary District 3220 held a press conference on May 8, outlining their plans to help the country through the crisis

How is Rotary helping out Sri Lanka during the crisis?

Pubudu de Zoysa, District Governor-Elect 2022/2023, stated that Rotary was helping out the communities at the community level through Rotary clubs across the island. “We have also been able to procure the necessary medicines needed through our international Rotary network. We get the priority list of medicines from the government and we are able to procure them through the Rotary clubs overseas. After we receive them, we hand it over to the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, and they distribute it to hospitals across the island as necessary,” she revealed, regarding how Rotary was helping the country get through the medical crisis. Dr. Athukorala also shared that Rotary was planning to give jobs to 2,000 recent graduates and also bring in 500 scholarships from overseas worth Rs 2 billion. “We are working closely with the government on programmes to facilitate the development of soft skills in the youth so that we can prevent brain drain,” he said.   
“We are losing hope for own future”

Rotaract, the youth wing of Rotary, consists of 9,000 Rotaractors across the island. Talking about the contribution of Rotaract to the country, Akila Wijetunga, the District Rotaract Representative stated that Rotaract always takes an effort to better the lives of others and give hope to them. “But at this point, we are losing hope for our own futures. This is the time for us to stand up and raise our voices seeking justice for our futures. This is why we thought we would join this walk for solidarity with Rotary.”   

The Press Conference was also graced by the presence of Aruni Malalasekera (District Governor 2021/2022), S. Karunakaran (Past District Governor)and Ajith Weerasinghe (Chairman- Rotary Solidarity Walk).