Throughout its 40-year journey, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has contributed immensely to the Sri Lankan community with over 12,000 direct beneficiaries and over 50,000 individuals who have been positively impacted through a range of social programmes. To mark this significant milestone, SOS Children’s Villages recently hosted its 40th Anniversary celebrations at the National Training Center of SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala with the highlight being the launch of a commemorative postage stamp and special First-Day Cover issued by the Department of Posts Sri Lanka.
The event was graced by Chief Guest and President of the Board of Directors at SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka – Nandasiri Ponnamperuma, the Postmaster General of Sri Lanka – Ranjith Ariyarathne, Ambassador – Roshan Mahanama, National Director – Divakar Rathnadurai and other members of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Divakar Rathnadurai – National Director, SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka said, “We at SOS Villages Sri Lanka are truly honoured to have this commemorative postal stamp issued on our 40th anniversary and are thankful to the Department of Posts and the Postmaster General of Sri Lanka for this special acknowledgment. SOS International was founded with a firm vision of “Every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect and security” and we have successfully taken on this universal purpose and responsibility to contribute to the upliftment of children and youth of Sri Lanka and are proud the legacy we have created so far. I take this opportunity to thank all SOS Mothers, supportive staff, Village Directors across our 6 locations in Sri Lanka and all stakeholders for their contributions in our efforts towards strengthening the lives of children and youth in our country.”
COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP AND SPECIAL FIRST-DAY COVER
Postmaster General of Sri Lanka – Ranjith Ariyarathne officially released the commemorative SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka 40th Anniversary postage stamp and special First-Day Cover issued by the Department of Posts Sri Lanka.
The commemorative stamp design features the 40th Anniversary Logo of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka and icons of significance that make SOS Children Villages one of its kind and iconic. These include educating children, family like care, growing up with siblings, belonging to a community and most importantly growing up under the care of a mother, whom SOS children refer to as ‘Amma’.
LAUNCH OF COFFEE TABLE BOOK – JOY
The pictorial coffee table book ‘JOY’ (Journey of Our Youth) is about the children of SOS Children’s Villages who have overcome obstacles in life to lead a decent, independent, fruitful and contented life, where her/his potential as an individual has been reached – where the journey was as important as the destination. ‘JOY’ demonstrates the difference in the quality of care provided in Family-like Care model of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka.
PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL AWARDS
SOS Care Leavers who excelled in Sports and Academics at National and International arenas received Colours
SOS Employees with 25 Years of Service were appreciated and awarded a special commemorative plaque