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| BEGINNINGS |
Forming a society to establish and manage a Children´s Home for needy children was a concept of late Dr. C de S Wijesundera who was then the Consultant Paediatrician at the General Hospital Kandy. He was faced with the problem of abandoned children in the hospital many of whom grew up in the children´s ward care. With Professor Leelananda Prematilleke, the late Venerable Labuduwe Siridamma Thero of the Getembe Temple and other well wishers they formed this society.
Singithi Sevana was established in 1977. Initially the Home was housed in a rented building. In 1986, the then Diyawadena Nileme (custodian of the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy), Hon. Neranjan Wijeratne, offered the present land on long- term lease and the building programme was launched. In November 1989 the Home shifted to the present premises.
Adoption of Children
Our primary objective is to care for needy children under12 years of age and bring them up in a Buddhist environment. Orphans are given for adoption through the state system and the other children are either given back to their parent or guardian if they are capable of providing care or else when they reach 12 years are placed in other state registered homes that take in older children. The Home has admitted 210 children to date.
Several of our orphaned children. have been given for adoption through the state system. Initially, the older children were adopted by foreigners mostly Australian. It is with great pleasure that we record that all children given for foreign adoption are leading very successful academic and social lives in their adopted countries and several of them visit Singithi Sevana with their family. However, now there is an increase in demand for adoption locally. All admissions, adoptions and handing over children are carried out through the state system and the society does not entertain any such requests directly. |
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