Rotary Colombo East Ushers in a New Era at its 42nd Installation Ceremony

Rotary Colombo East celebrated its 42nd Installation Ceremony at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, marking the official commencement of the 2026/27 Rotary year. The prestigious evening brought together Rotarians, distinguished guests, partners, and well-wishers to witness the ceremonial handover of leadership and reaffirm the club’s commitment to service above self.

A defining moment of the ceremony was the official collaring of Rtn. A. (Alagan) Thavaraj as the 42nd President of Rotary Colombo East, together with the installation of the Board of Directors for the 2026/27 Rotary year. Rtn. Dillon Henderlin passed down the legacy at this moment by collaring Rtn. A. (Alagan) Thavaraj as teh 42nd President of Rotary Colombo East. As he assumed office, President Thavaraj shared his vision for a year focused on meaningful community impact, collaboration, and sustainable service initiatives that will continue the club’s proud legacy.

The occasion was graced by District Governor Rtn. Kumar Sundararaj of Rotary District 3220 (Sri Lanka & Maldives) as the Chief Guest.  *Dr. Jayakrishnan, an eminent Cardiothoracic Surgeon from Omega Hospital, Mangalore, India, attended as the Guest of Honour, lending further significance to the celebrations through his support for the club’s humanitarian initiatives.

One of the most memorable highlights of the evening was the launch of the club’s flagship project, “Children of Tomorrow,” a transformative initiative dedicated to improving healthcare access for children living in Sri Lanka’s plantation communities. The project will begin with its inaugural medical camp at Meddakumbura Estate, Punduloya, Talawakelle, and will be implemented in partnership with Melsta Hospital, whose medical professionals will provide essential healthcare services and medical expertise during the outreach programmes.

The launch received overwhelming support from generous benefactors, with over LKR 6 million raised in a single evening. The initiative was profoundly supported through contributions from the *LBR Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Mohan Shankar, and Mrs. Shanthi Shanmuganathan, reflecting a shared commitment to creating healthier futures for underprivileged children.

The evening also demonstrated Rotary Colombo East’s unwavering commitment to the wider Rotary movement through a significant contribution to The Rotary Foundation. President Rtn. Alagan Thavaraj ceremonially presented a cheque of over USD 12,500 to District Governor Rtn. Kumar Sundararaj, reinforcing the club’s dedication to supporting Rotary’s global humanitarian mission.

As Rotary Colombo East embarks on its 42nd year of service under President Thavaraj’s leadership, the club looks forward to building on its proud heritage through impactful projects, strong partnerships, and a continued commitment to transforming lives and strengthening communities across Sri Lanka.