Jayawickreme Foundation

About Us

The Jayawickreme Foundation was formed in December 2001 strictly as a non political, non religious, non ethnic, non profit making foundation with the aim of assisting and helping the poorest of the poor in the Weligama area, Matara district.

The Foundation is an approved charity (Registration No. S 3/6/01) and largely dependant on well-wishers and donors for its finances. The Jayawickreme Foundation based on West Charley Mount Estate, Denipitiya, Weligama, Sri Lanka was founded with the idea and concept of helping the most needy.
   

The Southern province is a poverty stricken part of Sri Lanka consisting of three districts. Rural Weligama is one of many neglected places in the Matara district where the poor and needy have to be helped and supported by uplifting their standard of living. In this area where the Jayawickreme Foundation is active, there is an unemployment rate of around 80%.

The Chairman of the Foundation, Sujith Jayawickreme, is a professional tea planter owning land on his family estate. He hails from one of Sri Lanka's leading families, most of whom were philanthropists. He is the great grandson of "Mudliyar" David Martin Samaraweera of Weligama, who was one of Sri Lanka's greatest philanthropists. The title "Mudliyar" was given to him by the British to honour him for his work for charity.

Susanne Loos-Jayawickreme was selected by "The United Organization Of All Island Communities - Sri Lanka" to receive the award of SAMA SRI DESHAMANAYA for her work in the field of Social Services. She is the first foreigner to win any award in the history of this organization. During the award ceremony in the Provincial Council in Ratnapura, which was attended by more than 400 people from all communities covering the whole island, she was also felicitated in recognition for her dedication towards her work for the poor and needy.

German born Susanne Loos-Jayawickreme, Vice Chairperson/Treasurer, is a journalist by profession. Recently she was selected by "The United Organization Of All Island Communities - Sri Lanka" to receive the award of “DESHAMANYA” for her work in the field of Social Services. She is also the first foreigner to win any award in the history of this organization. In Germany she was working for the Ferenczy Presse Agentur (FPA) Munich and was an editor of the NRZ - Neue Ruhr/Rhein Zeitung, WAZ-Group, Essen.

We are presently actively involved in the tsunami relief program and have a transparent track of valuable activities to our record.

Your assistance in the form of donations would be highly appreciated. Please click here to make a donation.

Thank you.

Sujith Chanaka Jayawickreme
Chairman

Susanne Loos-Jayawickreme
Vice-Chairperson/Treasurer
     
 
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