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“I am forever grateful for the financial support they gave me in a situation where I was
feeling hopeless, lost and down. I still remember the day Shiromi came to me with
a smile and said: ‘Putha don’t worry. Our foundation will help you to continue your
studies.’ I felt immense relief,” says the medical student, explaining that it was not just
a formal agreement between her and the foundation.
She adds: “They always checked up on me to see whether I was really doing okay. My
brothers and I got an invitation to visit the foundation to get to know more about them.
We were welcomed and introduced to the staff. We also met the top management's Mr.
Steven Enderby and Mr. Abbas Esufally who were very kind.

“Shiromi is like a mother to me. Whenever I face a problem I tell her and she always
tells me, ‘Don’t worry Putha. We will do something.’ Those words actually strengthen
me to move ahead because I believe I am being looked after.
“I am here today as who I am, is all thanks to the Hemas Outreach Foundation. Without
that support and care I would not have been here. As the Hemas Outreach Foundation
celebrates 20 years of marvellous service, I wish and pray it continues to help and heal
broken hearts.”
Poignant moments with the children for Mr. Rangana Herath (above) and Mr. Roshan Mahanama (below).
Meanwhile, the media which gave wide coverage to the Christmas party went into
detail how spinner Rangana interacted with the children, while Roshan had disclosed
that together they were able to collect more than 500 gifts for the occasion, some of
which had also been sent to the families affected by the blast at the Zion Church,
Batticaloa.

Roshan’s apt message to the fractured country had been: “Let us as Sri Lankans, come
together without any racial disparity, to help one another, share their joys and sorrows
and celebrate a peaceful Christmas.”

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