Rotary Global President in Sri Lanka for $ 400,000 project

Friday, 24 November 2017 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With congenital heart disease being one of the major killers in Sri Lanka for children under five years of age, treating it is key to reducing the infant mortality rate in the country. Almost 2,500-3,000 children are born with a congenital heart disease every year and most of them need either surgical- or catheter-based treatment within the first year of their life. Unless treated in a timely manner some of them do not live to see their first birthday and a majority will die before they reach adulthood, said Rotary Project Chairman Sushena Ranatunga.

To address this issue the Rotary Foundation and Rotary Sri Lanka raised over $ 400,000 to set up the first ever Human Heart Valve Bank at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), said the project initiating Governor Rotarian Gowri Rajan, who was given the backing of then Rotary Global President K. Ravindran, a Sri Lankan.

The facility is now ready at LRH and the 2017/18 Rotary International President Ian Riseley and Governor Rotary Sri Lanka Dr. Ven. Bandagiriya Somawansa Thero will be officially handing over the first ever Human Heart Valve Bank to Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Seneviratne and Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa in the presence of the pediatrician community of Sri Lanka and key medical hierarchy of LRH.

Riseley is a chartered accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., a firm he established in 1976. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked in the audit and management consulting divisions of large accounting firms and corporations. His firm specialises in income tax and management advice for individuals and small businesses. He has a Master’s degree in Taxation Law and graduate diplomas in accounting and income tax.

Risely has been a member of the boards of both a private and public school, a member of the Community Advisory Group for the City of Sandringham, and has been involved in Sea Scouts and sporting groups, as well as being a honorary auditor or adviser for a number of charitable organisations.

Riseley’s honours include the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian Government in recognition of his work in East Timor, the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Australian community, the Distinguished Service Award and the Regional Service Award for a Polio- Free World from the Rotary Foundation.

A Rotarian since 1978, Riseley has served as treasurer, director, foundation trustee and member and chair of numerous Rotary International and foundation committees. His wife Juliet, a past district governor, and he are major donors and bequest society members of the Rotary Foundation. They live on seven hectares in Moorooduc, where they practise their personal philosophy of sustainable and organic living. They have two children and four grandchildren, said Rotary PR Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala.

The Global President and First Lady Juliet will be the Chief Guest at the Black Tie Charity Dinner at Shangri- La, Colombo, which is a sold-out event with all its proceeds going to charity. Former Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara will grace the occasion, said Krish Rajendran, the Past District Governor and Project Chairman of the visit of the Rotary International President.