Leo Club extension - Sri Dharmarama Vidyalaya, Ratmalana

We have extended a school Leo Club in Sri Dharmarama Maha Vidyalaya, Ratmalana. Our Charter President has already conducted 3 orientation workshops and informed the Lions International for its registration.

We have received the Charter certificate, pins, Leo kits from Lions International. The official charter certificate presentation with Leo club innaguration ceremony is scheduled in May 2007 at school main hall under our District Governor's leadership. From January 2007 onwards the Leo club started their project and activities. Presently they have completed 3 major projects and send the reports to Leo District council 306 C2 and Multiple District 306 Sri Lanka.

Renovating Pre-school and playground

Our Lions organized a Pre-school renovation project in Dehiwela coastal area. This is a tsumai affected area which is mainly accommodated by the fishing community. This is the only Pre-school in that vicinity which cater the children’s foundation education with the minimum facilities. Based on the request made by the community and the need for the children’s basic education, our Lions agreed to renovate the Pre-school. The renovation project was conducted on 19th November 2006 at “Sipsevana” Pre-School, No: 40, Aponso Avenue, Dehiwela. 23 Lions from Lions Club of Colombo Millennium Leo, 3 volunteers (One International volunteer-Engineer, Painter and Teacher), Lion Deepthi Weerasooriya from Lions Club of Bakkamoona were participated in this event. This event was started at 08.00 am and ended around 05.00 pm with refreshments. The cost for the painting materials, refreshments, transport charges, metal/iron materials for gate, chairs & cousins and all other expenses were shared by the Lion members. Lion Antonia Fernhout initiated and led the project with the assistance given by Lion Manohari.

Road Safety Programme-Continuous project

Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College and Lions Club of Colombo Millennium, Leo organized a road safety programme. The programme was especially designed for school children with the colobration of Traffic Police Division, Mount Lavinia Police Station. This is a continuous project done by Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College and it was started in 2005. From November 2006 onward this project will be a joint project with Leos and Lions and it is an ongoing project. The Leos who received the basic traffic system training from the Mount Lavinia Traffic Police Unit, and they are visible on weekdays twice a day (before school starts and after its over) on Galle Road, (Hena road junction-pedestrian cross), Mount Lavinia with the traffic police unit. This project is fully sponsored by Leo-Lions Club of Colombo Millennium 306 C2 and agreed to sponsor continuously. Lion Manohari Lankeshwara is the Chairperson for this project.

Carrier Guidance Programme for Adolescents

Leo-Lions Club of Colombo Millennium organized a carrier guidance program at Lalith Athulathmudali College, Mount Lavinia on 21st of November 2006. Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College jointly organized this valuable project and invited all the Ordinary & Advance level students from Lalith Athulathmudali College. College Principal addressed the event and noted that it is great support for the young adolescents to take the correct decision and it will help their future plans. This programme was conducted by the Technical College Rathmalana with collaboration of National Vocational training Authority. 20 Leos from Lalith Athulathmudali College, Leo Advisor, teachers, around 200 students, parents and LeoLions from LeoLions Club of Colombo Millennium 306 C2 were participated this programme.

World Peace Day-Pahan Pooja

Our club jointly organized a Pahan pooja project with Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College to mark the World Peace Day at Bellamwila Rajamaha Vihara on 12th November 2006. This “pinkama” pooja was conducted in the above well-known Buddhist temple especially to wish and pray peace & prosperity in Sri Lanka. Around 5000 oil lamps were lighted in the Temple premises with participation of Leos, teachers, students, parents and LeoLions from LeoLions Club of Colombo Millennium 306 C2. Around 20 Leos, 20 students, 10 LeoLion members, Leo Advisor & Teacher- in-charge were participated this project. Lion Lokuhettige Roshantha is the project chairman.

Entertainment Educational Book Donation

District 306 C2 Project - United Nations (UN) Day with children 2006

Lions International District 306 C2 and Lions Club of Colombo Millennium Leo jointly organized a major and continuous project on donating library books to the Children & Adolescent via Lions Clubs to mark the United Nations (UN) Day in 2006. In 1945 when the UN Charter was signed, Lions were present to witness that historic day. Since then that long outstanding partnership with the United Nations continues todate as we strive to meet the humanitarian needs of the world.
One million rupees worth of Meena comic were donated by UNICEF to effectively disseminate the Meena programme in Sri Lanka. The Meena comic books are well tested in all South Asian countries and targeted the Children and Adolescents in the world to educate them on Life Skill Based Education (LSBE) and child rights. It is an Entertainment Education package as a supplementary reading material which can be used in all educational points like schools, libraries etc. This project was officially launched in Eastern province Lions Club by our District Governor during his official visit in each Lions Club in Eastern Province in various functions on 4th, 3rd and 5th November 2006. Also another launch was organized in Colombo to mark our Lions International President Lion Jimmy M Ross MJF visit in Sri Lanka on 26th November 2006 at BMICH, but due to the tight schedule the Colombo launch was diverted and the following books were directly delivered to all Lions Club in the island. These books are available in all South Asian countries and sale value of each book is US$ 10.
Count your Chickens, Girl’s access to education
· Dividing the Mango, Equality in nutrition and workload
· Who’s Afraid of the Bully, Resisting teasing of girls by boys
· Meena’s Three Wishes, Water, sanitation, and hygiene education
· Take Care of Girls, Equal access of girls’ to health care
· Strangers in the Village, Dealing with differences, especially in managing conflict situations
· Health in Your Hands, Hand washing and hygiene practices
· Safe from Worms, Prevention of work infestation
· Life Has Changed, Psychosocial healing and support of children in post natural disaster and any tragic situation

Guiding programme-Lions Club of Eastern University, Campus

Upon District Governor’s request and the International President’s membership growth target, our Charter President Lion S.Vijayapala went to Batticaloa and successfully given the guidance to the Campus Lions Club of Eastern University on 4th November 2006. This Campus Lions club was inaugurated on 5th of December 2006 with 26 members by District Governor during his Eastern province visit. Our Charter President was appointed as a Guiding Lion for this club. This Lions Club was sponsored by Lions Club Valaichcheni Town and this is the first Campus Lions Club in the District 306 Sri Lanka.

Leadership conference on Lionism

Orientation workshop for Lions Club of Batticaloa Singing-fish Leo
Leo Lion S.Vijayapala conducted the orientation meeting for Leo Lions Club of Batticaloa Singing-fish on 4th November 2006 at the Lions Activity Centre, Batticaloa. Under the patronate of District Governor and the International President’s membership growth target, our Charter President went to Batticaloa and successfully conducted the Leadership programme on Lionism to the 42 prospective Leo-Lion members from Batticaloa District. This club was inaugurated on 5th of December 2006 with 41 members by the District Governor during his official visit in Eastern province. Our Charter President was appointed as a Guiding Lion and Extension Chairman for the Batticaloa Singing-fish Leo-Lions Club and this Lions Club was sponsored by Lions Club of Batticaloa. The Extension Chairman award was presented the Charter President by the International President Jimmy Rose on 26th November 2006 at BMICH.

Club Directory publication

Our club published our Club Directory on 21st October 2006 in a grand manner for Induction & Installation ceremony day, which held in Sanhinda Reception Hall, Nugegoda. This was a full color Directory that first time published in Lions District 306 C2 within one week time of interval. Leo-Lion Chaminda was the project chairman for the directory publication and this directory contains not only the members detail but also the vital information of how to form a Leo-Lions club, scheduled monthly regular meeting and board meetings, planned project and activities for the year 2006/07 etc. This directory itself serves as a publicity tool to increase the Lions membership through Leo movement to serve the needy people in Sri Lanka.

History of Lions Club of Colombo Millennium Leo

Leo Lions Club of Colombo Millennium is the first Leo Lions Club in Sri Lanka District 306 C2. This Club was inaugurated on 21st October 2006 and extended by Lions Club of Thalapathpitiya. Past Leo District President and the Leo of the Year International Gold Medal Winner Leo-Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala is the Charter President and 32 Leos inducted as Lion members to serve the needy people via Lions Club of Colombo Millennium, Leo. In the history of Lions District 306 C2, 32 Leos inducted as Lions in first time and it’s a record in the District 306 C2 that the highest number of members inducted as Lions and all the members were former & present Leos. These Leo Lion members are representing the whole community of Sri Lanka such as Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgers and able to communicate in all three languages. Charter President PDP Leo-Lion S.Vijayapala’s theme for the year is ‘Communication is vital’ to make PEACE in Sri Lanka through better communication. Charter President has a vast experience in the Leo and Lions movement and his Leo service all to gather his 17 years of Lionistic carrier with Leo Lions Club of Colombo Millennium. Leo products from Thalapathpitiya and St.Clare’s College LeoLion Derrick and Leo Lion Manohari Lankeshwara were appointed as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. All the 32 experienced Leo leaders are inducted as Board of Directors and all the members as directors are involve in decision making. On the day of inauguration itself the club published their colour-ful Club Directory and scheduled all the meetings and projects for the whole year 2006/07. District Governor Lion Lasantha Gunawardena MJF inducted the 32 Leos as Lions and Vice District Governor Lion Priyantha Beddawithana installed all the members as Board of Directors. The Charter certificate was handed over to the Charter President by the International President Jimmy Rose on 26th November 2006 at BMICH. The registration number of the club is 97867 and officially registered on 25th October 2006 in the Lions International Registry.

Leo Lions Club Program

The Leo Lion Program was designed to provide a way for current and former Leos to build upon the skills that they learned as a Leo, but with all the rights and privileges as a Lion.

Charter a new Leo Lions club by recruiting 20 or more current or former Leos (as well as other community-minded young adults) who have reached the age of majority and want to form their own Lions Club.

As a former Leo, you receive
Waiver of your entrance/charter fee
Credit for your years of Leo service
Credit for offices held as a Leo
Special Leo Lion Pin

Benefits of being a Lion
Prestige of being a Lion
International programs such as the peace poster contest
Worldwide network of Lions Clubs
THE LION Magazine
Leadership institutes and training
Local, district, and multiple district leadership development
International public relations
Lions Clubs International Foundation
Liability insurance coverage

Consider sponsoring your own Leo Club!

For more information download the Leo Lions Clubs Brochure or contact
New Clubs and Marketing Department
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL
300 W 22ND STREET
OAK BROOK, IL 60523-8842
Phone: (630) 571-5466, extension 522
Fax: (630) 571-1691
E-mail: newclubs@lionsclubs.org

Biographical sketch of Charter President PDP Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala

Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala joined the Leo movement in 1991 at Leo Club of Batticaloa. He was the Secretary in 1995/96 and he won the most outstanding Leo Club Secretary Winner award in District 306C, and runner-up award in Multiple District. He received the Lion & Leo President’s appreciation award too in the same year.

He was elected Batticaloa Leo Club President in 1997/98 and entered into the District Council 306C as a Regional Director. Also he was appointed as a Multiple Treasurer and Chief Co-ordinator for the Multiple District in 1997/98. In the history of the Batticaloa Leo Club, he is the first Leo who won the individual award and held a post in Multiple Council. In the ninth Leo District conference he won the Best President award, Most outstanding Regional Director Winner award and Leo of the Year Winner award in District Council 306 C. In his President-ship the Leo Club of Batticaloa won the Most outstanding club award in the District for the third consecutive year. And also he won the 100% Leo President Award from Lions Clubs International-USA.

Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala was unanimously selected as a DISTRICT PRESIDENT in the ninth annual conference and installed by Past District Governor Lion Shirely Tissere. In his period he reactivates the defunct Leo Clubs and formed new Clubs in the District. For this great well done job he received the special Leo club reactivation award from the District Governor Lion WMS Wijesundera MJF. And he won the New Club formation award from Lions Clubs International-USA. In this 1998/99 year’s Lions International Conference in USA he won the Leo of the year (LEO-LOY) International GOLD MEDAL award. This is the highest Leo award in the world and among 150,000 leos he is the only Asian received this highest award for his service.

He retired from the Leo movement in 2002 and entered the Lions movement in 2002/2003. He was inducted as a Charter member of Lions Club of Colombo Mid Circle and installed as Charter Vice President of Lions Club of Colombo-Mid-Circle. He is a Leo Advisor of Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College, Mount Lavinia from 2002/03 to date. He was the Advisor to Leo District President in Leo District Council 306 C2. In 2006/07 District Governor Lion Lasantha Gunawardana MJF appointed as a District Chairman for work with UN & other NGOs.

Lion Vijayapala completed his Masters Degree (MBA) on Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration in Commonwealth University, Canada and completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree at Eastern University, Sri Lanka. He successfully completed his primary and secondary education at R.K.M Vivekananda Vidyalaya and R.K.M Shivananda National School respectively in Batticaloa. He got the G.C.E (A/L) best result for his school with the second rank in Batticaloa District in 1991.

Lion Vijay was the President of Batticaloa District Undergraduates Association, President of Eastern University Students Association, and Faculty board student representative of Faculty of Commerce & Management, Eastern University.

Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala professionally qualified and holds Memberships in;
Fellow of International Association of Book Keepers, United Kingdom (FIAB)
Member of Association of Accounting Technicians, Sri Lanka (MAAT)
Licentiate of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (LICA)
Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA)
And also he has completed numerous courses in the field of management, administration, accountancy and NGO sectors in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Lion Vijay rented his profession too to the service sector. He has rendered his dedicated service to our needy people in Sri Lankan via FORUT-Norway, CARE International-U.S.A, and Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA). Presently he is a Programme Communication Specialist in United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has trained more than 3000 youths in North & East under the community service development. He is a visiting Lecturer of Open University, Management Department and rendering his capacity building in Nawala and Kandy regional study centres.

He is the second son of Mr & Mrs Sinnathamby Rajaluxmy family. His father and brother are professionals in photography from 1950s at New Batticaloa Photos. He married Lionlady Sashikala and got a baby boy Haresvaraa on 26th March 2007.

We welcome our Charter President Lion Sinnathamby Vijayapala with his 17 years service to our newly installed Lions Club of Colombo Millennium Leo 306 C2.

FOOT NOTE:
Presently he is holding the following responsibilities in Leo & Lion movements in Sri Lanka:
A. LEO CLUB:
01. Leo Advisor-Leo Club of Lalith Athulathmudali College, Mount Lavania
02. Leo Advisor-Leo Club of Sri Dharmarama Maha Vidyalaya, Ratmalana

B. LEO DISTRICT COUNCIL 306 C2:
01. Advisor to the District President 306 C2

C. LIONS CLUB:
01. Charter President-Lions Club of Colombo Millennium Leo
02. Charter Chairman-Lions Club of Batticaloa Singingfish Leo
03. Charter Chairman-Lions Club of Kottawa Millennium
04. Guiding Lion-Lions Club of Batticaloa Singingfish Leo
05. Guiding Lion-Lions Club of Eastern University Campus
06. Guiding Lion-Lions Club of Kottawa Millennium

D. LIONS DISTRICT 306C2
01. District Chairman-Working with UN and other NGOs