Hope On Wheels

The Rotary District of Sri Lanka and Maldives 3220, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Salem, India (District 2982) and the Rotary Clubs of Batticaloa, have provided 45 bicycles to selected school students in the Batticaloa District. The Salem Rotary Club in Tamil Nadu, India, donated these bicycles. Plans are in place to distribute 2,000 bicycles across the North East and North Central Provinces. 
The bicycle distribution event occurred on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Batticaloa Mahajana College Auditorium. Distinguished guests included Sri Lanka's District Governor Susena Ranatunga, District Secretary Gamini Madanayake, District Governor Nominee Kumar Sundarraj, Rtn. Ajith Jayawickrama, Rtn. Keerthi Ranaweera, representatives from the Zonal Educational Office, club presidents, and members. District Governor Susena Ranatunga served as the chief guest for the event. 
The Presidents of the three Rotary Clubs in Batticaloa—Rotary Club of Batticaloa President Dr. Muralitharan, Rotary Club of Heritage President Pamatheesan, and Rotary Club of Batticaloa City President Jegavannan—jointly presented the bicycles to the students. In this initial phase, 45 bicycles were distributed in the Batticaloa District. The Rotary Club of Batticaloa Heritage provided 15 bicycles to students from the Manmunai West Education Zone School, the Batticaloa Rotary Club distributed 15 bicycles to students of the Myalambaveli area school, and the Batticaloa City Rotary Club also distributed 15 bicycles. The beneficiaries were selected based on vulnerability criteria in collaboration with the Zonal Educational Office. This initiative aims to improve students' school attendance and support their educational needs without disruption due to economic constraints. The event was attended by school students, parents, Rotary Club members, and well-wishers.