A different scene for Melantha… doing it with Cambrians Class of ‘80

The pandemic has engulfed the whole world and many are suffering – victims of the Covid-19 virus, and also with the lockdowns imposed.

In our part of the world, the scene is equally bad, but, as the saying goes ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going,’ there are folks who are ready to lend a helping hand.

The Cambrians Class of ‘80, of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, was formed in 2011 by a group of ‘80s old boys.

Melantha Perera, well-known in the showbiz scene, has been the President since the Class of ’80 became a reality, and none of the members want him to step down because of his enthusiasm and ‘work hard’ policy.

Referring to the current situation, in the country, Melantha says he keeps the committee alive by entertaining them, on zoom.

“Recently, when one of my students, in the UK, wanted to felicitate the doctors and nurses, in the Panadura Hospital, I contacted Doctor Hemantha, stationed at the hospital, and he was very appreciative of the student’s thoughtfulness.”

Melantha went on to say that Dr. Hemantha then made a suggestion, since he was in charge of the Covid section at the Base Hospital Homagama.

Melantha was told that when Covid patients are brought in, or tested positive at the hospital, no one can visit them. They are with the clothes they wore when they were admitted.

While the hospital takes care of them, medically, they are not able to provide some of the things that the patients need – like sarongs, slippers, towels, etc.

It was at this stage that Melantha and the committee met, via zoom, and decided to move into action.

The Cambrians Class of ‘80 group rallied round, and also made a cash donation for an urgently needed machine for the hospital.

Melantha says he is indebted to all the friends, and those from overseas, as well, who donated towards this worthy cause – the Kumara Sathkara Project.

Yes, Melantha is working closely with his Exco members, going beyond the usual annual get-together activities, etc., and fulfilling the duties to the society.

At their annual get-together they felicitate their past teachers, invite families of the members, entertain the children of the members, etc., and each year the Cambrians Class of ‘80 collectively takes the lead in several CSR projects – donation for the Annual Prize Giving of the College, donations for five families affected by the bomb blast, cash and donation of dry rations to the Bandaragama Raja Maha Viharaya for flood-affected families in the Kalutara District, and conducting blood donation programmes are some of their social service events.