PINA Organisation
                  Sri Lanka

The P I N A Organisation is a non-profitable, non-government organization (NGO) registered in Sri Lanka and is powered by P I N A – Hilfe fuer Sri Lanka e.V. (registered European INGO) in Germany.

 

We help people in need, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, age or social standing. Our vision is to provide all Sri Lankans with a better standard of living and to lend a hand to families who are facing hard times and to those who cannot help themselves. All members of P I N A in both Sri Lanka and Germany work voluntarily and free of charge.

 

Our mission statement is simply to never give up hope. Today P I N A has seen more than 20 years of successful growth and operations in Sri Lanka. There were late nights, obstacles and sheer impossible tasks to overcome, but there were also tears of joy, accomplishments and moments we will take on for the rest of our lives. The knowledge, that we have contributed, even in the smallest way, to the betterment and development of Sri Lanka, is not only a satisfying thought, but a deed that speaks for us as humans and who we are at heart.

 

We believe in helping one person at a time, hoping that in the end, we contribute to the social development of society as a whole.

OUR ACTIVITIES IN 2013

January
Following a similar project in January 2013, PINA arranged for the German organization “Clowns without borders” to perform at four school functions in the Trincomalee district. The clowns performed in two Tamil schools, one Muslim school and one Singhalese school in the region. Over 1,200 school children and teachers were excited by these shows. A big thank you goes out to the clowns for their commitment to create joy for these children. .

   

Performances by the clowns

February
PINA donated 40 study tables to the Gangarama temple in Colombo for their Vocational Centre in the south of Sri Lanka.

   
Handing over of the study tables to the Gangarama Temple

50 trainees at the Ceylon German technical Training Institute in Mt. Lavinia started their German language classes, which are sponsored by PINA. The German classes consist of 280 teaching hours and will end with an examination for a German language certificate by the Goethe Institute. PINA provides the financing for the German lecturers, training for more German teachers, school books and other learning materials, examination charges, laptop and a CD player for German language learning audio books.

The student’s first German class

The German course at the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute in Mt. Lavinia is a pilot project and PINA aims to give more youths at other technical schools the opportunity to learn German as a foreign language.

A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed between PINA and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development. The short ceremony held at the start of the first German class was also attended by members of the German Embassy and the Goethe Institute in Colombo.

   

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

PINA would also like to give its most sincere thanks to the Colombo Goethe Institute Language Center for their invaluable advice and their co-operation, which is vital for the success of this project.

OUR ACTIVITIES IN 2012

January
PINA arranged for Clowns without Borders, a group of German performers who work with children in destitute regions of the world, to perform in Kattaparichchan in the Trincomalee district, where they performed in several schools for 320 school children.

   
The clowns performing for an excited crowd of school children

PINA also arranged for Clowns without Borders to perform at two occasions for over 1,000 children in the Jaffna Peninsula at a school in Manipay run by a Christian society.

The clowns entertaining crowds of children

February
PINA donated soaps and food items to school children in the Kattaparichchan area of Trincomalee, upon a request made by the school.

Dr. Aruna Abeygoonewardana donating the items to the children

March
PINA launched a new project to carry out various eye operations for destitute persons on a regular basis in collaboration with eye care hospitals in Colombo, Panadura and Seeduwa.

   
Patients who have had cataract surgery performed

A woman who suffered an accident whilst working in the Middle East as a house maid and who is now permanently disabled was donated a water bed by PINA, which would enable her to be more comfortable.

June
PINA donated 20 bunker beds and mattresses to the Colombo Gangarama Temple for their various social projects.

PINA members handing over the bunker beds to the monks for their charitable work

August
PINA decided to launch a new project to carry out regular eye cataract operations for destitute persons who have lost family members who worked in the Sri Lanka Air force, Navy or Army during the war.

October
A junior netball team from the area of kurunegala got the unique oportunity to travel to australia to play against other school colleges. PINA donated the sport equipment and a small pocket money.

December
After a meeting with the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute in Mt. Lavinia PINA decided to support teenager who duing there a 3 to 4 year training with a german course. The goal is to get a certificate from the Goethe Institut (the official german language school)


In the last month of the year 2012 PINA donated for eye surgery for people in Katarakt. Glasses for school children and computer for teenagers.

 

OUR ACTIVITIES IN 2011

January
The Suwanetha Eye Hospital in Gothaduwa, initiated and built by Dr. Soma Edirisinghe, in association with the Lions Club and Janasarana, held its soft opening ceremony. PINA, as a project partner, donated brand new medical equipment in value of 1.8 million rupees, such as eye sight measuring equipment and a Lensometer.

   
PINA Chairman Dr. Aruna Abeygoonewardana handing over valuable medical equipment to Janasarana Chairman Dr. Soma Edirisinghe

February
By initiation of PINA and in association with the TV channel Swarnavahini and project partner Janasarana, collections for donation in the form of dry rations and basic essentials for the 300,000 destitute people in the flood-affected regions in the east of Sri Lanka were called for from the general public.
PINA and its well-wishers were also able to contribute 2, 000 Euro worth of goods for this initiative.

Packing of containers with donations in association with the Sri Lankan navy

   
Packing of dry rations with help from the Navy, members of PINA and Janasarana

PINA, together with Swarnavahini and Janasarana, visited the Trincomalee region to contribute the collected essential goods to flood-affected people, which were distributed to approximately 500 families from a variety of ethnic backgrounds in the villages of Muttur, Nilapola and Thopur. Additionally, the Base Hospital in Muttur also received essential medicines for treatment.

During the process of collecting and packaging the dry rations and essentials in Colombo and their distribution in the East of Sri Lanka, PINA was assisted by Rear Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Commander Northern Naval Area of Sri Lanka and more than 150 Naval soldiers. PINA would like to express its most sincere gratitude to them for their selfless work in these under-developed areas and readiness to help.

   
Crowds gathering to receive the donations
   
Locals were provided with dry rations, water, cloths and other basic essentials

A lady doctor at the Muttur Base Hospital receiving valuable medicines

PINA extended a helping hand to a family father in the Trincomalee region suffering with Kidney disease, by providing the financial means to receive life-saving medical treatment.

March
Upon invitation by the Manager of the Bank of Ceylon in Panadura, PINA provided 50 bed covers to be handed over the Dehiyaththakandiya hospital.

Based on an initiative by Rear Admiral Jayanath Colombage to build a house for a destitute family, PINA contributed some basic furnishing for the house in the form of beds and mattresses as well as household items for the parents and their 10 children.

The family in front of their new home in the Trincomalee area

April
PINA, upon a request by the staff of the main Colombo Fort train station, which is used by approximately 150,000 people every day, donated a wheel chair to be used by disabled people at the main station. Previously, a broken 20-year-old wheelchair was in constant use.

We hope the wheel chair will loyally serve for another 20 years

May
The Sri Lanka Parliament passed the PINA Organisation (Incorporation) Act, No. 25 of 2011.

August
Dr. Abeygoonewardana of PINA travelled with a group of American well-wishers two schools in the Santhosapuram region of Trincomalee region and donated educational and food items to the students in value of Rs. 300,000 under the patronage of Rear Admiral Jaynath Colombage.

   
Children and locals gathering to meet PINA and their well wishers

PINA donated 8 tables, 2 cupboards, several mattresses and educational toys such as puzzle games to the Kosala Dullewa Foundation School in Mt. Lavinia, which specialises in teaching children suffering from the Down’s syndrome.

October
PINA donated various items of medical equipment, sports wheelchairs and other sports equipment for disabled soldiers at the permanent rehabilitation resort “Abhimansala” in Anuradhapura to assist with their rehabilitation and thank them for their selfless efforts in defending Sri Lanka.

PINA members donating wheel chairs at Abhimansala

PINA, in collaboration with American well-wishers, donated computer laptops in value of Rs. 500,000 to the T/ Mu/ Kaddaiparichchan Vipulanathan Vidyalayam School in Muttur.

This is the first project of its kind to computerize a school in this region and was carried out under the patronage of Rear Admiral Jaynath Colombage.

   
The students learning to use their computer equipment

The children performing song and dance to express their gratitude

PINA also visited the T/ Kiravatkuli Sivasakthy Vidyalam school in Sathosapuram to donate educational materials and food items to the students there and inquire about their needs.

   
The children awaiting their new school items

PINA