YMCA Trained 24 Peace Makers

YMCA trained 24 young people at the Youth Action for Just Peace National Seminar held from 21 - 23 April, 2017 at Chinthana Center in Nainamadama. Event commenced with a short opening ceremony held with the participation of National President Mr. Nirmal De Fonseka and National Treasurer Mr. Spencer Leon.  

Young people from Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kallar, Pamunugama and Kurunegala attended this training organized by the YMCA of Pamunugama as the main event of the "Youth Action for Just Peace" project supported by the APAY.

During the seminar young people were trained and educated on various justice issues, mechanisms available in the country to tackle those issues. Pamunugama YMCA will support all the local groups participated this event to conduct a follow-up activity at their local community related to the issues discussed at the seminar. Panel discussion, presentations, group activities, social media and drama session were among the activities held during the seminar.

AGM of Pamunugama YMCA

Annual General Meeting of the YMCA of Pamunugama was held on 08 April, 2017 at the YMCA of Pamunugama main hall. 

During the meeting annual reports including financial and programme were approved by the general membership.

New office bearers also were appointed for the year 2017/2018. Mr. Nimantha Hettiarachchi (25 years) was appointed as the president of the YMCA of Pamunugama while Mr. Johannes Nico was re-appointed as the treasurer.

Asker - Pamunugama completes another joint programme

32 Scouts including 7 leaders led by Mr. Rolf Felchenberg were in Sri Lanka from 09 April - 16th April attending a friendship programme between Pamunugama YMCA and YMCA YWCA Scouts of Asker.

Group arrived on 09th in Pamunugama. On the first day, after the welcome lunch group went on a boat trip in the Negombo lagoon. They enjoyed the lagoon environment and the monkeys of Muthurajawela welt lands during the boat trip. 

From 10 - 13th Norwegian scouts took part in a Scout camp together with 38 Pamunugama YMCA Scouts including 8 leaders at Atanwala village in Riverstan area in the Matale District. Tenting on a paddy field, hike in the Knuckle's Forest, Swimming in the Thelgamuwa Oya, Campfire and the New Year Festival were among the highlights of the 4 day camp.Following the Camp in the mountains group went on a two day site-seeing which covered Wasgamuwa safari, Sigiriya and Dambulla and returned to Pamunugama on 15th evening.

Last day on 16th group had a fair-well lunch at Green Banks holiday Bungalow. . At the lunch meeting group shared their experiences of the stay and the things they learnt being in Sri Lanka for a week. At the meeting Mr. Rolf was awarded a special souvenir appreciating his long standing commitment for the betterment of Pamunugama YMCA and his love for the people of Pamunugama. Pamunugama YMCA would like to extend appreciation to Asket YMCA for their friendship and the support they have extended to Pamunugama YMCA. Volunteers including board members and youth members of Pamunugama have made a tremendous contribution make this friendship programme a success.   

Pre School New Year

Pre School of Pamunugama YMCA had two events on 06 and 08 April to celebrate the New Year. On 06th kids together with teachers practiced new year traditions including boiling milk and eating new year sweets. On 08 they had a new year game festival with lot of fun games. Parents and friends also attended the game festival.

Easter Meditation

YMCA of Pamunugama had its annual Easter meditation programme on 06 April, 2017 at the YMCA of Pamunugama Main Hall. Event was organized by the Youth Mission Group of the YMCA. Rev Fr. Samidu Pathum attended the programme to preach. Around 70 child, youth and adult members attended the event. 

YMCA supports drought effected students with Come-Share Foundation

Sri Lanka has been experiencing dry weather in most of the country since the beginning of 2016 has affected people in 16 districts while a vast area of agricultural lands has been destroyed. According to the Disaster Management Center, as of 21 February 899,235 people of 228,906 families from 103 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 16 Districts including Trincomalee, Kalutara, Gampaha, Hambantota, Monaragala, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kandy, and Matale have been affected by the prevailing dry weather.


Considering the above situation, YMCA of Pamunugama together with Come-Share Foundation provided 180 school shoes with socks and stationery sets to 96 effected students. Students of Alagollewa St. Antony's Vidyalaya, Horowpothana Ruwanweli Maha Vidyalaya, Medawachchiya Vidyalaya and Gomarnkadawela Vidyalaya received these items on 30 and 31 March 2017. General Secretary of Pamunugama YMCA with Mr. Nuwan Semeera (Volunteer) and Mr. Derek the Director of Come-Share Foundation attended the distributions. YMCA thank Come-share foundation for its financial support to make this task a a reality.

Pamunugama YMCA Pre School celebrates New Year

Today the teachers and kids came to the school dressed with colorful traditional clothes unlike the other days. Reason was that they are celebrating new year early as the school vacation is set to start from Tomorrow. They started the ceremony with boiling milk which symbolizes the prosperity for the new year. Then then will eat new year traditional sweets. They are also planing a new year game festival on Saturday at the YMCA ground.  

In Sri Lanka the new year is celebrated on 13th and 14 April. According to Sri Lankan astrology, New YEar begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to to Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries). It also marks the end of harvesting season.