The Rotary District Sri Lanka collaborated with the 15 finalists of the Miss Universe China 2014 who are currently in Sri Lanka on a pre-pageant tour, towards a hearing aid project worth Rs. 100 million, which was launched at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel yesterday. The project was launched under the patronage of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Rotary, after having identified this issue, located a donor who came forth with the amount worth of Hearing Aids. The project is valued at Rs. 100 million in equipment and specialized time. Twenty five children were presented with hearing aids by the Miss China finalists in the presence of a distinguished gathering which also included past Governors of Rotary.

“This initiative is unique, given that those who would not have had access to this sophisticated equipment worth between Rs. 60,000 and Rs.110,000 each, now has the opportunity of owning one, which is specially manufactured in Germany. One thousand of such hearing aids will be donated by Rotary across the country,” Governor Rotary of Sri Lanka and Maldives, Gowri Rajan said.

“Today’s event is unique given that it is a Private - Public - People partnership. The base hospital in a respective geographic area will verify patients by performing an audiogram of the potential beneficiary and then the Rotary engages the recipient to receive the equipment,” Rajan said.

The Miss Universe China finalists, along with the reigning Miss China Jin Ye and Yue-Sai Kan, of whose production company handles the Miss China event were present were also present on the occasion. “The Miss China finalists were full of praise for the initiatives taken by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa for the welfare of children.

Columnist and Business Professional Rohantha Athukorala said, “This initiative taken up by Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts as well as with other subsidiaries sheds light towards using different pivots on ‘Nation Branding’ and to position Sri Lanka globally. “There are a number of pillars through which outsiders would find high credibility in Sri Lanka. The experiences that the finalists have seen and appreciated; whether it is by witnessing the country’s cultural triangle or by being part of a charitable happening such as this, along with Rotary, helps create nation branding among the global masses,” he said.

 

Source - www.dailynews.lk