LEO's UNITED !

Camp is Re-scheduled to April 1st, 2nd & 3rd !!

Keep the dates free ...!

Hi to all !!

Our president initiated to collect dry rations & other required stuff for the Tsunami survivors from 26th itself & we had been collecting things from our area. I know that other clubs also have been contributing through numerous ways.

As I was chatting with a few people, they all seem to agree that we all should get together & do something, which will be more effective.

As we all know, we have fellow LEOs who were affected by this.

Can we all get together & visit their places & help them do the cleaning ?
And also we can get an idea of what sort of help they will be needing so we can plan for it.

Or, there are schools in the area that still havent started as the debris has not been removed yet. Can we go & help to clean a school?

Or if you all have any other ideas please comment or post.

The 05 member strong delegation that participated at the International Youth Camp from the 23rd-29th December in Ranchi, India arrived in Sri Lanka at 12.45 am on the 01st of Jan 2005. The tour party comprised of Leos Hashika Wijesinghe, Ruchitha Cooray, Dharshan Gajendradas, Sashika Wijesinghe and yours truly Shehan Kumar.

We arrived in Chennai on the 20th of December and were treated to right royal treatment from the Leos in Chennai by District President Leo Rajaraman and his gang of merry-men. From our arrival (and mind you it was at 3.00 am) till our departure to Ranchi (also at 3.00 am) the Leos in Chennai saw that our every need was satisfied (including shopping and sight seeing). One only hopes that hospitality of that nature could be offered by us if any Indian Leos visit Sri Lanka in the future.

The horrific 38 hour train ride from Chennai to Ranchi is best left untold...hehehe...

The International Youth Camp brought together around 125 youth from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Czech Republic and of course the Hosts India. It was 07 days of fun and entertainment and the Leos revelled at the opportunity of mixing with youth from diverse cultures. To be honest, the camp programme itself was not well managed and conducted but we Leos certainly made the best out of the opportunity given to us. Our delegation was easily the best out of the whole camp and our behaviour, discipline, our attire and the way we presented ourselves drew high praise from the participants and organisers alike. Our team also walked away with the most number of awards presented at the camp.

The awards we won included,

* Second Place - In the Flag/ Banner presentation (Our singing of the National Anthem was easily the best and also won high praise)

* Best Female participation - Leo Hashika and Sashika Wijesinghe
* First Female registration - Leo Hashika Wijesinghe
* Most Talented Leo of the Camp - Leo Shehan Kumar
* Ms. Leo 2004 - Leo Hashika Wijesinghe
* Mr. Leo 2004 - Leo Shehan Kumar

Our joy was short-lived since we got to know about the Tsunami disaster immediately after the awards ceremony. Thus we arrived back in Sri Lanka with heavy hearts.

Many thanks to Lion Sisira Jayalath - District Chairman Youth Exchange (306 A) and Lion P.M. Withana the District Governor 306 A for agreeing to sponsor Leo Dharshan and myself. Special thanks also goes out to Leo Dhashanthie for arranging the airtickets and Lion S. Pragalathan for his words of wisdom. We couldn't have made it without you !!!

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Leo Shehan Kumar

Multiple District President
Leo Multiple District 306, Sri Lanka

385/7, Rajagiriya Road,
Rajagiriya.

Tel: 0714-249324