The three Rotary Clubs of the Kandy area recently installed three new leaders to continue with their outstanding multi-faceted services to the community. The Rotary Club of Kandy, which is the oldest of the three, inducted veteran municipal councilor Sanjeewa Hulangamuwa as its 65th president at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel amidst a distinguished gathering. Former Sri Lanka cricket captain and Deputy Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Promotion Arjuna Ranatunga was the Chief Guest whilst the Guests of Honour were the Governor of the Central Province Hon. Monty Gopallawa and the Mayor of Kandy Kesara Senanayake. Mr. Ranatunga in his address said that he was especially happy to be present when his close friend of many years Mr. Hulangamuwa assumed office and recalled how when he (Mr. Ranatunga) played cricket for the country Mr. Hulangamuwa never failed to phone him with a word of encouragement, especially when things were not going too well in the cricket field. Mr. Hulangamuwa easily fitted the old adage “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” he said.

Chief Guest Arjuna Ranatunga (Centre) with the incoming-president Rt. Hulangamuwa (right) and the outgoing president Rt. Ravana Wijeyeratne.	Rt. Hulangamuwa (front right) with Mr. Ranatunga, Governor Gopallawa, Rt. Wijeyeratne, Rt. Ranil de Saram, and other guests.

Nominated by the Rotary Club of Kandy to Rotary International Kandy's very own Prof. Stanley Samarasinghe, Director of the ICES and Editor of The Kandy News was honoured on this occasion with the award of the Rotary International's Distinguished Award for Professional Service to the Community.

In separate ceremonies senior Kandy lawyer Indrakumar Wijethilake was inducted as the 4th President of the Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan and the well known academic in the field of Information Technology Nihal Palipana was inducted as the 21st President of the Rotary Club of Katugastota.

Rt. Palipana (Right) takes over from Rt. P.V. Ekanayaka at Katugastota Rotary.	A cross section of participants at the Rotary Club of Kandy meeting.	The outgoing president of Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan Nirmali Werasingha (Left) welcoming the incoming president Rt. Wijethilake.

Muthiah Prabagaran was inducted as the 8th President of the Rotaract Club of Katugastota (1988), Sara Arumugan as the 22nd President of the Rotaract Club of Kandy (1985), and Heshani Ranasngha the 5th President of the Rotaract Club of Kandy Metropolis (2003).

Shirani Pothuhera was inducted as the 36th President of the Inner Wheel Club of Kandy and Mrs. Omitha Wekramanayaka was inducted as the 1st President of the Inner Wheel Club of Kandy Metropolitan. Inner Weler Club of Kandy equipped the audio visual room of St. Mary's Convent, Matara.

The Rotary Movement (est. 1905) is celebrating its centenary year this year. With over 1.2m members in over 166 countries it is the oldest service organization in the world. Rotary's PolioPlus program launched jointly with the WHO and UNICEF to rid the world of the dreaded disease polio is now on the verge of complete success and counts as one of the greatest achievements in global health in the last one hundred years comparable in scale, magnitude and impact to the to the successfully completed smallpox eradication campaign.

The Rotarians and Rotaractors of the Kandy area clubs have been in the forefront of service to improve the wellbeing of the Kandy community. The past year was no exception and the service projects planned for the year ahead would continue and strengthen the same worthy tradition. In addition, since the tsunami last December they have responded magnificently to the meet the needs of the tsunami victims with a variety of programs. These include not only substantial assistance in immediate relief but also a large number of well-designed multi million rupee long-term rehabilitation projects.

The Rotary Club of Kandy is supporting over 520 tsunami-affected orphans by contributing Rs.1,000 for each orphan child each month for 36 months. It has donated 110, 19ft fishing boats with out-board motors and nets in the Ampara district and is rebuilding a tsunami school at a cost of Rs. 42 million

The Katugastota Rotarians have donated IBM computers and other IT equipment to Sri Rahula College, Tangalla, constructed houses and are financing several schemes to supply drinking water to tsunami communities.

The Rotary Club of Kandy Metropolitan is constructing 52 houses and has donated of 12 fishing boats to tsunami victims.

All three Rotaract Clubs functioning under the three parent clubs have completed major service projects of their own in the last twelve months both in Kandy area as well as in the tsunami districts. The Rotaractors have elaborate plans to continue their good work in the coming year.

Kandy Convent Old Girls Celebrate 75th Anniversary
The old girls of Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy plan to celebrate in grand style the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Past Pupils' Association (PPA). A dinner dance will be held at the Hotel Earl's Regency on Saturday October 1st, 2005. The president of he PPA committee organising the event Nirmalee Weerasinghe told The Kandy News that the Association is cordially inviting all past pupils, present and past members of the teaching staff, parents, friends, and well-wishers of the school to the dinner dance. The Good Shepherd Convent is 114 years old and the Past Pupils' Association has been a major source of strength and support for the school. The celebrations are expected to culminate with an Eucharistic Celebration in the Convent Chapel on Sunday October 30th at 9.45 am followed by the Annual General Meeting and lunch.
	The picture shows the members of the PPA committee organising the celebrations. Standing 1st row left to right: Indrani Rajapakse, Cynthia Sirisena, Srimathy Sebastian (Secretary) Rev. Sr. Dominic Savie (Mother Superior), Rev. Sr. Mary Alexandra Mendis (Principal), Nirmalee Weerasinghe (President), Marina Saheed and Damayanthie Peiris. Standing 2nd row left to right: Shyamala Ranaraja, Lalitha Nadarajah (Treasurer), Pushpa Weragama (Asst. Secretary), Elaine Gomez (Vice President), Ione Tennekoon, Zareen Hashim, Sagarika Seneviratne; Standing 3rd row left to right: Surangani Abeysundere, Bamini Jayaraman (Asst. Treasurer), Anne Sirimanna and Sunitha Madugalle. Absent: Malini Samarajiwa, Sumana Peiris, Leela Abeygunawardena and Chrishanthi Ellankoon.