Perinatal Psychiatric Unit of National Institute for Mental Health redesigned and refurbished

The Lions Club of Maharagama Golden City is a very active and one of the best service-oriented clubs in the International Lions District of 306C2, which won the Prestigious Best Club award twice and came the among the top three clubs twice within a short span of six years. 

During the first seven months in this lionistic year which started on 1 July 2015, it has done more than 130 service activities for the underprivileged in society under the patronage of President Lion Dinuka Chandraratne MJF. There are many such projects that have been lined up in the coming months too.

Lion Lady Dr. Dilini Halvitigala, a Director of this Club, is the Founder of Dilini Halvitigala School of Interior Design.  The Dilini Halvitigala Interior Decorators Society is a not-for-profit volunteer service organisation, formed among the past students of the Dilini Halvitigala School of Interior Design, with a view of assisting the membership to experience the joy of interior decorating and to serve the society, mainly the under-privileged, in the best possible way to add colour to their lives.

They also conduct free workshops to educate females and also award scholarships for the students studying interior decorating. The school is the only body to conduct this Government-approved course for interior decorating and currently conducts them in different parts of the country.

In honour of Lions Centenary Legacy Project, the Lions Club of Maharagama Golden City together with Dilini Halvitigala Interior Decorators Society have re-designed and refurbished the entire Perinatal Psychiatric unit of the National Institute for Mental Health at an approximate cost over Rs. 1 million.

Since this ward is the one and only ward in Sri Lanka dedicated to mothers who have mental disorders to get treatments along with their infants, they have designed the ward after considering all the psychological elements to suit the mothers and the babies. Taking into consideration the Psychological turmoil that the patients are going through, we have introduced the concept of nature with the idea of bringing serenity into their lives. The colours and shapes of nature are used to the main design.

The handing over ceremony was held on 14 February at the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda with the participation of District Governor of International Lions District 306 C2 Lion Wickumpriya Weerakkody MJF as the Chief Guest and Dr. Chithramali de Silva, Director Health Ministry as the Guest of Honour.