- Rotary’s dedication to Little Hearts goes above and beyond
In the bustling corridors of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, where hope and heartbreak often collide, there is a quiet revolution taking place – one that beats to the rhythm of tiny, fragile hearts. These are not just medical battles. They are stories of resilience, courage, and humanity. And at the centre of it all stands an organisation committed to restoring futures, one heartbeat at a time: The Rotary District of 3220.
Rotary District 3220 recently concluded a transformative Rotary Year and reflected on the past year at ‘Magic of Rotary’ on 16 June. At the event, focus was drawn to Rotary initiatives in the country. Rotary International, long recognised for its community service, networking, and professional development, has in recent years turned its focus in Sri Lanka towards a silent crisis: Congenital heart disease (CHD) among children. Congenital heart disease is a defect in the structure of the heart that is often present at birth.
The hidden crisis
Each year in Sri Lanka, over 3,000 children are born with congenital heart defects. For many, immediate surgery is the only chance at survival. But with limited paediatric cardiology facilities and a dire shortage of intensive care units, the gap between diagnosis and treatment can stretch into months – sometimes years. In those delays, lives are often lost.
According to Rotary for Little Hearts, over 60% of children cannot get access to treatment on time due to a lack of facilities.
The Little Hearts project began as an audacious dream. Could an entirely voluntary initiative raise billions of rupees to build a state-of-the-art Cardiac and Critical Care Complex dedicated to children? Could civil society and international partners unite under one banner to change the course of paediatric healthcare in Sri Lanka?
Rotary believed it was possible.
“We believe that all children deserve a chance at a healthy and fulfilling life,” Rotary District 3220 Governor Sushena Ranathunga said at ‘Magic of Rotary’.
Spearheaded by Rotary District 3220 and supported by dozens of clubs across the country, Little Hearts quickly grew into one of the most ambitious health-related civil society initiatives in Sri Lanka’s history. Their mission: To raise money and construct a facility equipped with cardiac operating theatres, catheterisation labs, and over 100 ICU beds for critically ill children.
Building more than walls
Fundraising efforts took on many forms: Charity walks, benefit concerts, art auctions, golf tournaments, and school-based campaigns. Sri Lankans from all walks of life – youth, business leaders, expats, and even schoolchildren themselves – pitched in. The Sri Lankan diaspora responded generously, with Rotary clubs in the UK, Australia, and the US organising parallel campaigns.
And while money was the immediate need, it was the community ownership that became the campaign’s heartbeat.
Several professional communities such as the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians as well as several other commercial ventures continue to support Little Hearts through to success.
“I am really grateful to have such good support,” Ranathunga said. “I want to thank each and every one who continues to help us in every way possible.”
Saving lives, one child at a time
Even before the completion of the new facility, the ripple effect of Rotary’s involvement was already being felt. Interim partnerships with the hospital helped fund emergency surgeries for children who couldn’t afford to wait. Rotary clubs coordinated with specialists to sponsor diagnostic camps in rural areas, helping identify congenital heart defects earlier than ever before.
Rotary’s involvement with Little Hearts has not only raised funds – it has transformed the way Sri Lanka thinks about healthcare philanthropy.
“When we think of congenital heart failure in children we often fail to think of the number of children who go for days waiting for a hospital bed,” he said. “Sometimes, those of us who rely on the private sector for our healthcare needs don’t see the other side of things.”
Looking to the future
The Little Hearts Cardiac and Critical Care Complex is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. When it opens its doors, it will double the country’s paediatric cardiac ICU capacity and reduce waiting times for life-saving surgery dramatically.
This takes the form of the Rotary for Little Hearts project, which has become a lifeline for thousands of Sri Lankan families facing an unthinkable horror: Life-threatening heart conditions in their newborns, toddlers, and children. The project is carried out by Rotary, Little Hearts Foundation, and the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
In the chaos of headlines and the noise of daily life, it’s easy to forget that change often begins quietly – through the steady work of volunteers, the stubborn belief in a better world, and the selfless act of giving.
Little Hearts is a testament to what is possible when compassion meets action. Through the unwavering efforts of Rotary and its partners, thousands of Sri Lankan children will now live to dream, to laugh, and to grow up healthy.