Aranya.lk is a Buddhist youth organisation founded by a collective of young people from Gampaha. Officially launched as a legal entity in 2017, President Anuranga Ovitigala, Vice President Tharindu Aravinda, and the youths behind the movement have been carrying out public welfare projects well before they created the organisation.
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Aranya.lk Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake[/caption]
Aranya Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake shared with us their collective mission, a primary motivation born from the need to create a space where those in need can be heard and those with means to help can direct their resources in the right direction. He said that Aranya functions as a hub which connects those two entities, bridging that disconnect between those in need and those looking to help.
Isuru shared with us their most recent project which has come to fruition – completing a housing project in Karukkankulama, Anuradhapura. He said that in August 2019, they first initiated the construction of a house for a gifted student named Oshadhi, whom they have been sponsoring for one years’ time.
[caption id="attachment_130276" align="alignleft" width="238"]
Aranya.lk President Anuranga Ovitigala[/caption]
Oshadhi was part of a programme Aranya was carrying out where they fully sponsored three students in the village of Karukkankulama, providing them with Rs.10,000 a month and supplying additionally the necessary school and stationery supplies. Following a year of carrying out this sponsorship, the organisers opted to provide a more sustainable solution for Oshadhi and her family in order for her to carry out her education without much difficulty.
Oshadhi originally lived in a clay house of 120 square feet, with her grandmother and mother, the latter of whom has taken quite ill. Having initiated the construction for their house, Aranya had estimated that the project would be completed within one years’ time. However, due to the pandemic, they had to face some delays and the project was only completed in January of 2021, and they were able to hand over the fully furnished house to the family.
Isuru shared that he must mention that they had originally estimated Rs. 800,000 for the project cost, but the diligence of the village principal, who was instrumental in drawing attention to Oshadhi as a gifted student in need, played a significant role and they were able to complete the final project for Rs. 700,000.
The new house has two rooms and a living area and their previous living space is currently being utilised as their kitchen. While Aranya was able to fully furnish the house, they are currently facing difficulty in getting a water supply for the house and are hopeful that they could address the issue soon.
The next step in offering up sustainable support for Oshadhi and her family according to Isuru is to provide them with a reliable source of income. At present they have done some research in the area and from their findings it was revealed that considering Oshadhi’s mother’s illness, she is unable to work long hours, and so the solution that has presented itself is providing them with a milk cow – the cow will allow them to sell milk to the lorry from the “kiri mandalaya” which purchases milk from the villagers at a reasonable rate. Given the land that the family occupies, they are able to house an animal; they hope to provide a second milk cow to allow them a considerable income.
Isuru said that Aranya is a youth organisation which came to be due to the passion of a few young people who wished to empower the impoverished, believing that it is in fact their duty to give back to our communities. He said that while they are at face value a Buddhist organisation, there is in no way a bar to who can help and whom they will help, he said that they encourage every citizen in need to kindly reach out to them and they will do their best to address their needs.
[caption id="attachment_130280" align="alignright" width="491"]
Aranya.lk Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake with Oshadhi and her family[/caption]
Their upcoming projects include the annual blood drive which they are doing for the ninth consecutive year, encouraged by the Gampaha Blood Bank who have relied on Aranya’s annual blood drive to replenish their supplies.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/aranyalksl/
Website:
http://www.aranya.lk/?fbclid=IwAR0tcuVrydYJhexvvP9meN1GYRQqFmrTaa2n0EsKHXn8BHH67uz5D3mCGyA
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/aranya.lk/
Aranya.lk Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake[/caption]
Aranya Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake shared with us their collective mission, a primary motivation born from the need to create a space where those in need can be heard and those with means to help can direct their resources in the right direction. He said that Aranya functions as a hub which connects those two entities, bridging that disconnect between those in need and those looking to help.
Isuru shared with us their most recent project which has come to fruition – completing a housing project in Karukkankulama, Anuradhapura. He said that in August 2019, they first initiated the construction of a house for a gifted student named Oshadhi, whom they have been sponsoring for one years’ time.
[caption id="attachment_130276" align="alignleft" width="238"] Aranya.lk President Anuranga Ovitigala[/caption]
Oshadhi was part of a programme Aranya was carrying out where they fully sponsored three students in the village of Karukkankulama, providing them with Rs.10,000 a month and supplying additionally the necessary school and stationery supplies. Following a year of carrying out this sponsorship, the organisers opted to provide a more sustainable solution for Oshadhi and her family in order for her to carry out her education without much difficulty.
Oshadhi originally lived in a clay house of 120 square feet, with her grandmother and mother, the latter of whom has taken quite ill. Having initiated the construction for their house, Aranya had estimated that the project would be completed within one years’ time. However, due to the pandemic, they had to face some delays and the project was only completed in January of 2021, and they were able to hand over the fully furnished house to the family.
Isuru shared that he must mention that they had originally estimated Rs. 800,000 for the project cost, but the diligence of the village principal, who was instrumental in drawing attention to Oshadhi as a gifted student in need, played a significant role and they were able to complete the final project for Rs. 700,000.
The new house has two rooms and a living area and their previous living space is currently being utilised as their kitchen. While Aranya was able to fully furnish the house, they are currently facing difficulty in getting a water supply for the house and are hopeful that they could address the issue soon.
The next step in offering up sustainable support for Oshadhi and her family according to Isuru is to provide them with a reliable source of income. At present they have done some research in the area and from their findings it was revealed that considering Oshadhi’s mother’s illness, she is unable to work long hours, and so the solution that has presented itself is providing them with a milk cow – the cow will allow them to sell milk to the lorry from the “kiri mandalaya” which purchases milk from the villagers at a reasonable rate. Given the land that the family occupies, they are able to house an animal; they hope to provide a second milk cow to allow them a considerable income.
Isuru said that Aranya is a youth organisation which came to be due to the passion of a few young people who wished to empower the impoverished, believing that it is in fact their duty to give back to our communities. He said that while they are at face value a Buddhist organisation, there is in no way a bar to who can help and whom they will help, he said that they encourage every citizen in need to kindly reach out to them and they will do their best to address their needs.
[caption id="attachment_130280" align="alignright" width="491"] Aranya.lk Treasurer Isuru Ekanayake with Oshadhi and her family[/caption]
Their upcoming projects include the annual blood drive which they are doing for the ninth consecutive year, encouraged by the Gampaha Blood Bank who have relied on Aranya’s annual blood drive to replenish their supplies.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/aranyalksl/
Website:
http://www.aranya.lk/?fbclid=IwAR0tcuVrydYJhexvvP9meN1GYRQqFmrTaa2n0EsKHXn8BHH67uz5D3mCGyA
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/aranya.lk/