KALUTARA
Kalutara is a resort town
located approximately 40km south of Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. Kalutara is
semi-urban and has a mixture of literates and illiterates in the population.
Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River (Black River). In the 11th Century, the town was made temporarily made a capital on the orders of
a South Indian Prince. The region was later planted with coconut trees, whose
by-products are used for both internal and external trade. The location also
boast fortifications dating back from the times when Portuguese, Dutch and
British vied for control of the area.
The 38-meter long Kalutara
Bridge was built at the mouth of the Kalu Gang River and serves as a major link
between the country's Western and Southern border.
At the southern end of the
bridge lies the 3 stories-high Kalutara Vihara, a Buddhist temple built in the
1960s which holds the distinction of being the only shrine in the world that is
hollow.
Travel medicine Internet sites
describe in their advice to travellers to Sri Lanka merely that the risk of
malaria is present all year round in all areas (below 800 m altitude), except in
the districts of Colombo, Kalutara, and Nuwara Eliya, and sometimes unrealistic
maps are posted. On average, 370,000 tourists visit Sri Lanka annually, of whom
the majority (63%) is of European origin. Roughly 14% of tourist hotel nights
booked by foreigners in 2001 was in areas with a risk of malaria (API > 1
case/1000 population).
In addition to serving as
a tourist resort town, the town is also renowned for its mangosteen fruits
The tranquility of Kalutara ended momentarily
on the 26th of December 2004. An earthquake off Indonesia triggered the largest
Tsuname ever to hit the island of Sri Lanka. Kalutara on the western coast of
Sri Lanka felt the full blunt of this freak of nature. Fortunately, the
loss of life was relatively minimal but the loss of property and the upheaval to
the daily lives of the residents of Kalutara was great. The town is still
reeling from this shock and it will be years before life returns to normal.
KALUTARA CENTRAL LIONS
The Lions of Kalutara Central was chartered in March 1986 and celebrated its
19th anniversary this year. The club is made up of professionals and
businessmen from the surrounding area interested in, and actively involved in serving
the community.
The club conducts
-
Health camps/Screen Patients and dispense medicines free of
charge.
-
camps for disabled youths to cater for their needs.
-
Eye Camps to distribute spectacles after examination/screening.
-
Raise funds for Tsunami affected school children to provide school
equipment/uniforms etc. and scholarships for the more gifted.
-
Housing Project for the Tsuname affected - Present funds total Sri Lankan Rs
3,000,000 (US$ 30,000) and presently awaiting final clearance of land to commence building.
NEWS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION 2005
PID Mahendra
Amarasuriya of Sri Lanka has been elected unopposed to the position of 2nd Vice
President of Lions International. The 2ndVP is usually groomed and
expected to take up the position of PRESIDENT OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL in 2 years
time. Consequently a Sri Lankan will head our wonderful organisation in the year
2007. Congratulations Lion Mahendra - You will always have our support.
The Sri Lankan
contingent MD306 won the coveted best UNIFORMED MARCHES in the Parade and
also won first prize as the BEST PRECISION DEMONSTRATION UNIT.
Congratulations and thanks to our Lions, you have done us proud.
IN APPRECIATION
In
recognition of the contribution of the Lions Clubs of Turkey, especially Lion
Dr. Enzar Tore, in providing free web page hosting for Lions Clubs everywhere,
the Lions Club of KALUTARA CENTRAL of MD306, SRI LANKA. proudly
displays the flag of Turkey on our site.
Click on the flag to go to the web site of Lion Dr. Enzar's home club - the
Lions Club of Canakkale.
As an
extension to the Turkish Lions' contribution, the Brisbane Ekibin Lions Club
of MD 201 Q1 (Australia) offer assistance to Lions Clubs who want to take
advantage of the Turkish Lions offer, but are not familiar with web
publishing. They've already set up many sites for Lions Clubs world-wide,
using Lionwap.
If your club wants to be on the internet, and would like some help, leave a
message in the Ekibin Guest Book by clicking on the image above. This is a
FREE SERVICE, so you don't spend a cent for their work. As Lionwap is also
FREE, this means you get a web site that you NEVER have to pay for. - Is that
a deal or what?
All your Club has to do it have some-one update and maintain your page, which
needs not take more than a few minutes each month. The Ekibin Lions will even
give you some tips on that!
