Moratuwa, Sri Lanka—To commemorate the International Day of Peace, UPF-Sri Lanka in cooperation with the municipal council of and a local hospital in Moratuwa city organized a clinic, offering free medical and dental care, for one day, on September 30, 2017.
The theme for this year’s Day and for the program was “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.” The clinic was set up by the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, the Moratuwa Municipal Council and UPF-Sri Lanka to serve lower income families living in Moratuwa, a large suburb of Colombo. In addition to providing free health care and dental care, electrocardiography (ECG) and laboratory services, and ultrasound scans, the clinic gave out free medicine and reading glasses to more than 1,000 people.
Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, state minister of finance and a member of parliament representing Moratuwa, was the chief organizer and also the chief guest of the program. Other special guests included Dr. Asela Gunawardana, director of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital; Hon. Morice Wijeratne, provincial councilor of Western province in Sri Lanka; and Mr. M.C.K. Mannapperuma, commissioner of the Moratuwa Municipal Council.
The main address was given by Hon. Wickramaratne, who thanked UPF for taking the lead in organizing this program to mark the International Day of Peace.
Dr. Chula Senaratne, secretary general of UPF-Sri Lanka, spoke about UPF and its commitment to advancing global peace.
In their speeches, Dr. Gunawardana and Mr. Wijeratne talked about the importance of programs like this one that promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Gayan Kahawela, national organizer of UPF-Sri Lanka, read UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres’s message for the Day.
Mr. Mannapperuma, commissioner of the Moratuwa Municipal Council, gave the vote of thanks.