An Appeal by the Hon. President for Cancer Patients Welfare Project – YMBA

Invoking Blessings

The members of YMBA compassionately bestow blessings on inmate patients, staff and the general public by carrying out regular alms giving to Bhikkus and also to a group of mothers (Kirammawarunge Dane) and inmates of an elders’ home as annual events.

Cultivation of in-depth concentration

One can rediscover mindfulness that has gone amiss and find you’re the inner calmness by practicing the right way of meditation under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable Bhikkus.

Helping the sick is also a priority

We provide comfortable lodgings, food and other essential facilities including the provision of prescribed drugs when requested, to cancer patients who report to Apeksha Hospital for outdoor treatment.

Donation of Blood

Annual blood donation campaign is conducted in July, to assist the Blood Bank of Apeksha Hospital to augment their blood supply kept for emergencies.

Educating the Young Spirits

The Association assists needy children in their education to achieve a good status in the society, With this objective, YMBA offers scholarships to Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students.

Empowering the Youth

Facilitating the under privileged school leavers the opportunity to follow a 6 months Software Development IT course followed by practical training.

16 Aug

An Appeal by the Hon. President for Cancer Patients Welfare Project

Dear Sir/Madam,

Welfare of Cancer Patients – YMBA Maharagama

We are writing to bring your attention to the remarkable work carried out by the YMBA Maharagama, a leading social service provider in the Colombo District. Established in 1993 under an Act of Parliament, and this organisation has been dedicated to serving the community for over 30 years.

The Westerns Province Social Services Department awarded the YMBA Maharagama as the best social service provider in the Western Province in 2017.

One of the flagship projects of YMBA Maharagama is the Cancer Patients welfare project. This project aims to provide free lodging and meals to cancer patients and their chaperones who travel from distant areas to receive treatment at Apeksha Hospital, the main cancer treatment centre in Sri Lanka. YMBA Maharagama offers them board and lodging free of charge, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or any other social barrier. The organisation currently has capacity to accommodate 50 patients in separate male and female sections and 16 children. Generous donations from philanthropic organisations and individuals have played a crucial role in funding this valuable project but we never receive any state donation.

Since its inception, this facility has made significant progress in supporting cancer patients. Over 45,000 individuals have benefitted from this project so far. YMBA Maharagama is committed to continually improving this initiative to ensure the patient’s stay is as comfortable as possible during their hospital treatment. Recent improvements include enhanced hot water supply, elevator services, library and TV lobby.

We kindly request your support in furthering this noble course. If you need further information about this project, you may contact the undersigned.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully

K.A.P. Kaluarachchi

Hon. President

YMBA renders all its services absolutely free. Funds required for the social service projects are raised through regular fund raising programmes in addition to the voluntary contributions of members, well-wishing organisations and individuals. A few philanthropists have left endowments through last wills and often the members of the general public who have been inspired by the Association’s humanitarian services too contribute towards the Association’s activities.

The project that provides free food and lodgings to cancer stricken patients is operated through a special Trust Fund launched for the purpose. YMBA has since its inception has served more than 50,000 patients and caregivers and hopes to strengthen this Fund through voluntary donations.
The Cancer Stricken Patients Drug Assistance Fund has been established to provide relief to needy patients to obtain drugs and medical test reports from external laboratories when recommended by medical professionals. This Fund too is maintained through voluntary contributions received from local and foreign donors.
Scholarships to students are too funded through sponsorships and donations received to the Scholarship Fund.
Religious services such as alms giving, assistance to Buddhist Temples, conducting Dhamma discourses and discussions too depend on donations of pious persons.
Social services such as blood donation campaigns to assist blood bank at Apeksha Hospital, family health camps, women’s welfare programmes and special projects to assist those affected by natural disasters and calamities.

YMBA respectfully invite donations from concerned members of the public to fund their humanitarian services. The Management Council of the Association requests you to send your kind donation to the bank account with details given below:

Account Name	Maharagama Young Men's Buddhist Association
Bank	Sampath Bank
Branch	Maharagama
Account No	001360000504

We thank you to provide information of contributions to the Hony. Treasurer of the Association by post, email or telephone, sending a photocopy of your deposit slip mentioning the project or programme towards which you contribute will help in the maintenance of proper records.

Your contributions are highly valued and will help YMBA Maharagama in successful provision of service to the needy sections of the society.