ROTARACT

ROTARACT Club, University of Kelaniya

The Rotaract Movement

Rotaract was founded forty seven years ago, with the Rotaract Club of North Charlotte, Carolina being the first club to be chartered – on March 13, 1968. Although this club is recognized as the first Rotaract club, Rotarians have been sponsoring similar organizations for young adults since the early 1920s.

In 1927, Round Table clubs were founded in Great Britain and Ireland. Membership in Round Table clubs was open to young men ages 18 to 40, and by 1935, there were more than 90 Round Table clubs.

In 1965, these organizations experienced significant growth – in part due to the Interact program created by Rotary International in 1962. Many Interactors, having reached the age limit of that program, were starting new types of clubs called “Senior Interact”.

The new program’s name, Rotaract, was created by Rotary International as a combination of the words “Rotary” and “Action”. The aim of the program was stated to be “to develop leadership and responsible citizenship through service to the community.” Coincidentally, the service club at the University of North Carolina had already adopted the name in 1966, but they coined it as a combination of the names “Rotary” and “Interact.” The committee also decided that young women should be allowed to join on equal standing with male members at the discretion of the sponsoring Rotary club.

Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown, the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya was chartered on the 3rd of June 2010 under the Presidency of Rtr. PP Dilanka Weerakoon. With a noble desire to serve humanity, over the past years, the club has given spirit and life to numerous projects, making an impact in the lives of countless people across the country by being a beacon of hope.

From empowering local communities through education and healthcare initiatives to championing environmental sustainability and social welfare, our commitment to making a positive impact has remained unwavering. Our dedication has been recognized with the prestigious title of Most Outstanding Club of the Year at the 34th Rotaract District Assembly, along with 22 other awards

Reaching All Corners, Uniting Our Kindness

Our mission is to extend the reach of kindness and compassion to all corners of society, fostering unity and positive change through impactful projects and initiatives.

With a team of over 500 diverse and talented Rotaractors from across Sri Lanka, the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya stepped into its 15^th year on the 01^st of July 2024. Led by President Rtr. Vihanga Divyanjana and Secretary Rtr. Adeesha Abeydheera, the club aims to become a leading youth organization in the country, dedicated to serving its community and making a positive impact."

Signature projects

SPECTRUM

Project Spectrum was an innovative project that used NFTs to generate revenue for community service projects. The project focused on launching an NFT collection called "Crab Realm" and conducting awareness programs The successful fundraising from Project Spectrum enabled the club to support two community service projects: Pensala, which focuses on education and support for underprivileged students, and Sobharaksha, a tree planting and monitoring initiative.

ROTATOMORROW

RotaTomorrow is a community-focused initiative organized every year by the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya. This is a competition that divides the entire membership base into 12 teams each focusing on a unique topic that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals. At the end of the competition an award ceremony will be held celebrating the hard work and achievements of the participants. The club plans to continue this project for a fifth year. RotaTomorrow was awarded gold for the Most Innovative Club Service Initiative and the Most Outstanding Club Service Initiative at the 34^th Rotaract District Assembly.

WRITING MAZE

Writing Maze brought together the creative talents of 46 gifted writers hailing from 17 Rotaract Clubs and 3 Interact Club to write a sci-fi novel, “The Man on the Moon. The novel's profits were established into the "Furry Tales Foundation," a heartwarming endeavor aimed to help stray dogs in need. The project received a Silver Award for the Most Innovative Club Service Initiative at the 33^rd Rotaract District Assembly.
Writing Maze 2.0 is a similar project, but with short stories. Ten Rotaract and Interact Clubs will contribute to the project. The completed collection will be published and sold, with the proceeds benefiting a charitable cause.

ආරම්භණ

Project Arambhana was a multi-phase initiative designed to empower students with financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and teamwork. The first phase, titled “Spark” focused on fundraising through creative events. The Sparks phase concluded with an award ceremony, where the teams were recognized for their efforts. The project culminated in a successful entrepreneurship competition where ten contestants from various universities competed for recognition and support for their business ideas. This project received a gold award for the Most Innovative Professional Development Initiative at the 34^th Rotaract District Assembly.

Executive Board – 2024-25

Upcoming projects of the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya

Merge 2.0

This project is the successor of project Merge which was initiated last year. Merge 2.0 is a platform designed to bridge the gap between the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya and international Rotaract Clubs. By creating a virtual space for connection and collaboration, Merge offers Rotaractors worldwide a chance to exchange knowledge and experiences.

Ignite ஸ்ரீ ලංකා 2.0

Ignite Sri Lanka 2.0 aims to transform an underprivileged village by improving its economy, education, agriculture, women's and youth empowerment, water access, and healthcare. This comprehensive approach will help the village become self-sufficient and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Project Ignite ஸ்ரீ ලංකා , the predecessor of Ignite ஸ்ரீ ලංකා 2.0, was conducted last year. This was a comprehensive community service initiative aimed at improving the lives of residents in Giribawa, Sri Lanka. The project addressed various sectors, including economy, water, agriculture, education, healthcare, and youth and women empowerment. Through its multidimensional approach, the project contributed to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, creating a more sustainable and equitable future for the community which led Ignite ஸ்ரீ ලංකා to receive a gold award for the Most Outstanding Community and Economic Development Initiative and a silver award for the Most Sustainable Community Service Initiative at the 34^th Rotaract District Assembly.

ස්වභාසමුද්‍ර 2.0

The Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya initiated project "ස්වභාසමුද්‍ර" last year which focused on conserving marine and terrestrial habitats through various initiatives, including sea turtle conservation, tree plantation, mangrove restoration, and coral reef cleanup. This project received gold awards for the Most Outstanding Supporting the Environment Initiative and the Most Outstanding Project Focused on District’s Areas of Focus at the 34^th Rotaract District Assembly.

Following the success of last year's project, the second edition of this project, "ස්වභාසමුද්‍ර 2.0" is being initiated this year. This year's focus will be on herbal garden competitions, mangrove plantations, e-waste management, and promoting sustainable eco-tourism practices.

Abhiman

Project Abhiman is an award ceremony honoring outstanding achievements in Sri Lanka's digital media sector. It aims to recognize individuals and organizations for their contributions to the industry, promote its growth, and provide opportunities for networking and professional development. The project involved a six-month research process to select nominees and winners fairly.