Sri Lankans are known all around the world as people who have a great sense of hospitality, kind, friendly and helpful. As a nation, we take pride in helping those in need, being there for people who need help and assistance.
It is hardwired in our DNA to help people, to be kind. Such is our passion. Such is our sense of love.
Staying true to what makes us truly Sri Lankan, News 1st launched the Gammadda Movement.
This movement is one which powers on with the people, working for the people.
The only hope for us at News 1st and Gammadda, all we strive for, is to build a better, bright future for Sri Lanka and all her people.
How it all started
We at News 1st initially traveled from door to door on a research and data gathering mission along with the University of Peradeniya.
In this journey, we witnessed heart wrenching scenes in rural areas of Sri Lanka. People suffering from chronic kidney diseases due to the lack of clean drinking water, children -our future generation- studying in sheds, villages threatened by wild elephants, broken roads -bad enough to make a few kilometer journey a long sickening experience. These are just a few of what we witnessed.
After gathering this data, we reached out to the Government. However, our request, the people’s plea, fell on deaf ears.
These people are Sri Lankans, just like you and I. Our own countrymen, suffering without resources and facilities, some of which we take for granted in our daily lives.
Ever so determined, we at News 1st decided to do something about it.
Gammadda launched the 100 days campaign, appointing young leaders among us to take charge of this initiative.
We called on the people to donate money for our movement, to build a better tomorrow, a brighter future for our own people.
With no surprise, as true Sri Lankans, the people answered our call as the donations kept coming in.
These donations varied from wealthy businessmen, well established companies to innocent elderly individuals who donated their entire pension.
There was one particular instance, where one elderly grandmother sent in a 500 rupee note via post, with a letter which read “This is all i have. If this can help someone, i will die in peace…”
Such is the true spirit of Sri Lankans. This, is what makes us Sri Lankan. This is what means to be a Sri Lankan.
Taking those kind donations, we completed project after project during the 100 days, constructing roads, bridges, school buildings, community halls, houses, providing clean drinking water -just to name a few.
This was followed by another door-to-door mission and then more initiatives, more phases of Gammadda -to serve our own people.
We did not stop there, seeing the distress among the people, Gammadda even raised the issue at the United Nations.
Having said that, we have good news for all Sri Lankans.
News 1st will be launching a brand new phase of the Gammadda initiative on February 21.
Watch the video below for more details
VIDEO
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