Pamunugama YMCA Easter Celebration 2015

Members of the YMCA including guides, scouts, adult leaders today (30 March, 2015) gathered at the YMCA main hall to meditate, and share the message of Easter. Today the YMCA members prayed together, sang hymns and listen to a preach delivered by Rev Fr. Samidu Pathum on the Easter and the Challengers for Christian in celebrating the Easter in today's context. 

Event started with an introduction to the Easter by Ridma and then the group prayed several traditional Easter prayers and sang hymns together. At the end Rev Fr. Samidu Pathum delivered a meaningful preach where he emphasized on Christian responsibility in identifying what Easter really is and the importance of celebration and living with it as it is the most important feast in the Christian Calender. 

AGM for 2015

Annual General Meeting of the YMCA of Pamunugama held on 22 March 2014 at the YMCA of Pamunugama with participation of its members.

At the Annual General Meeting the new office bearers were selected while the Board was strengthened with more youth and some matured YMCA pioneers. Mr. Shelton Peiris was selected as the new President while Mr. Johannes Nico was given the responsibility of the treasurer.

Mr. Shivankara completed his tenure as the president and Mr. Ajith Hettiarachchi after completing 2 year service as the treasurer handed over his responsibilities to even younger Nico Johannes.

At the Annual General Meeting the members had discussions on the activities conducted during 2014 and the activities to be conducted during year 2015. Annual Report and the Auduted Statements of Accounts also were passed as a custom during the meeting.

Addressing the members the newly selected president who is a veteran in the YMCA thanked the former president and the treasurer for the service they have extended and reminded on the huge challenge in responding to social issues as the YMCA in the future.

Port City and its negative impact

We the Pamunugama YMCA situated in the coastal belt just north of Colombo (where the Port City is under construction) are very much concerned on the negative impact that port city could bring to our area. Sea-erosion which could create a lot of problems to fishermen and those who live by the coast seems the main thread among many other social and environmental impacts. According to the experts the project was started without any proper environmental impact assessment. We also concerned and very worried over the geopolitical dynamics behind this project as Chinese invasion on the land (port city) will create a lot of sensitive and complicated geopolitical scenario where Sri Lanka is going to trapped between powerful nations. 

On Saturday 21st March, 2015 YMCA of Pamunugama organized a discussion to educate the villagers on this regard at the YMCA main hall. Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam (Environmentalist) and Mr. Aruna (Fishermen activist leader) attended the discussion as resource persons. There were around 15 villagers attended the event and YMCA of Pamunugama will continue the educational process together with those who attended the event on Saturday.

Right to Information Act - By Dr. Rohan Edirisinghe

Justice and Peace Committee of the National Council of the YMCAs of Sri Lanka together with the National YWCA of Sri Lanka jointly organized a workshop on the Right To Information (RTI) Act at the YWCA Head Office at Kolpetty. 

Workshop was conducted by well-known social activist Dr. Rohan Edirishinghe. Dr. Edirisinghe expressing his views he shared on the back ground of the bill, pressure on Sri Lanka for such a bill, key elements of a progressive RTI bill, Challenges in working out the bill in the Sri Lankan political contest and the main elements of the bill which has already been drafted. 

Group of around 25 YMCA and YWCA staff  and members attended the event. Ridma and Nico from Pamunugama  YMCA also attended the workshop.

Kubb for the first time in Sri Lanka

Kubb is a recreational game mainly popular in Scandinavian countries, US and few other places. YMCA of Pamunugama today introduced this game to the Children's Club members. Most probably this is the first time this game was played in Sri Lanka.

Children loved this fantastic game and they were so eager to learn it and to play it. Children of Pamunugama will continue to play this game and YMCA would like to spread this game among other YMCAs as well as interested groups. This is not only for kids. It works very well woth adults too..

We thank Mr. Eric of US Kubb Chanpionship and Mr. Jason Larson of JP's Backyard Games of US for helping us to get the Kubb set.