SRI LANKA MALAY ASSOCIATION RUPEE FUND
The Sri Lanka Malay Association Rupee Fund, is a government approved charity that has carried out a yeomen service since its inauguration in 1953, assisting and bringing light to many less privileged and low-income families of society. The formation of the Rupee Fund was mooted by a simple idea of collecting a rupee a day. Sdri Mashmoon Lye a dedicated social worker, during her tenure as the Chairperson of the Social Service Committee of the Sri Lanka Malay Association the mother institution back then, rallied its members to collect a rupee each from which the fund was born.
The SLMA Rupee Fund was inaugurated by Dr. M.C.M Kaleel, Minister of Labour & Social Services on the invitation of Mr Zahiere Lye the SLMA President on the 30 th of April 1953 at Rifle Green, Colombo. The SLMA Rupee Fund was relocated in 1960 to Padang of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club and an official building for the Rupee Fund was established in 1964 adjoining the Padang.
In its hey days back in 1953 the neighbourhoods that formed the environs of the SLMA in Slave Island were not affluent or developed, with rows of small houses clustered together with a network of narrow corridors. Many homes consisted of malnourished children.
Milk feeding for undernourished children and treats for children were the initial activities undertaken by the Rupee Fund. A Milk Feeding Centre was established with the assistance of the Ministry of Health. The late Sdri Mashmoon Lye leading a dedicated group of senior ladies walked the length and breadth of Kompenyaveediya (Slave Island) offering assistance to the less fortunate. Through these travails they identified the importance of upgrading the educational status of the residents and training unemployed girls in various vocational skills to help them gain employment or start self-employment projects to enhance the socio-economic status of their homes.
This led to the inauguration of a vocational training center with the establishment of a textile weaving training center which was declared open by Hon. Maithripala Senanayake, the then Minister of Industries and Rural Development . Training was provided free to the young girls of the area in handloom weaving. The first handloom exhibition of the institution was held in 1966 at the Lionel Wendt. A period when local industries were encouraged.
In 1956 the SLMA Rupee Fund gained recognition of the Government and was accepted as an approved charity with the support from the Ministry of Social Services. In 1959 the Rupee Fund established a scholarship scheme for needy students, with initially 30 students being benefitted. This scheme continues to date to support needy A/L and University students, with University students being provided a monthly grant of Rs.5000 and A/L students a grant of Rs. 2500 a month. A Pre-school was established in 1984 which today serves approximately 60 children. The Pre-school holds an exhibition of Arts & Crafts annually.
In 1978 the SLMA Rupee Fund was incorporated by an act of Parliament. Support for senior citizens was implemented through an Elders Fund. Eye clinics were carried out and dry rations distributed. In 1977 a pension scheme was launched for deserving elders providing a monthly sum of Rs.700 which has now been increased to Rs.1000. During the holy month of Ramadan 500 households are provided with dry rations annually. Past President, the Late Chasnyn Musafer having spearheaded the social service work initiated by the predecessors was recognized by the state with the awarding of the title Deshabandu.
Main Activities since the inception of the SLMA Rupee Fund in 1953
- Milk feeding for under-nourished children in the area
- Treating deserving children to entertainment and gifts
- Distribution of dry ration to the deserving
- Vocational – Textile weaving training
- Presenting Elders with a monthly pension
- Vocational – Dress making training
- Vocational – Embroidery training
- Vocational – Typewriter training
- Vocational – Computer training
- Spoken English training
- Operating a Pre-school for children from low income families
- Presenting scholarships for University & A/L students
- Conducting Medical camps for senior citizens
‘Social Service is something that emanates from the heart rather than the head. We must feel within ourselves sympathy for those who are in need and in distress and arouse within us the desire to serve and help. Personal service is generally true service’.
– Late Sdri Mashmoon Lye
Past President – SLMA Rupee Fund