Our Mission
For over 20 years, the mission of The Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America Western Region, Inc., has been to bring together professionals and students living in the United States and Canada for charitable and humanitarian purposes, which shall include the prevention of diseases, care and treatment of the sick, injured, afflicted, infirm, disabled, or destitute persons.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush view plans for SLMANA Project.
Dear Viewer,
We hope you were able to attend our recent webinar on Strategies in Navigating Medical Training held on 8/18/2024. Your participation during the event was invaluable, and we are grateful for your time and attention.
After the very positive response to the webinar, we are excited to announce a series of similar webinars, continuing the Careers in Medicine series.
Please do take a moment to complete our post-event survey, your feedback on this past seminar and thoughts on future topics is most appreciated: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MBZ9S9Z
For those who couldn’t attend the live session or would like to revisit the material, a recording of the webinar can be found directly below under “Careers in Medicine Series - Strategies in Navigating Medical Training”
Once again, thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to seeing you at our future events!
Best regards,
SLMANA-WR Organizing Committee
Letters of recognition for various projects funded by SLMANA-West.
Our Accomplishments
SLMANA-WR has raised and donated over $2,7 million over the past 20 years. Here are some of our most notable accomplishments:
Suwa Arana Project - 2023, of the Indira Cancer Trust, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Together with Indira Cancer Trust, built and completed a 6-story building and opened it to the public on the 29th of June 2023. The total cost for construction was $2,857,826.00 or Rs. 863,063,560.00. SLMANA-WR contributed $1,830,780.00 or Rs.552,895,560.00 which is 65% of the total cost. The balance was collected from donors from all over the world. Project Completed!
We thank all our donors, for making Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first Pediatric Palliative Care center for children with cancer a reality. We also extend our thanks to everyone at Indira Cancer Trust, Archio Construction and all others involved for working through difficult times to complete this project.
Emergency Projects - 2022 to help Sri Lanka. SLMANA-WR collected $57,449 or Rs.20,681,640.00 from generous donors in the US and Canada and funded the following projects to over 30+ hospitals - Projects completed!
College of Pediatricians - Sri Lanka - $12,973 worth of the following medications and consumables,
Viva-check glucose Test strip canisters each containing 25 - 5,000 qty - delivered on 5/5/2022
Tacrolimus 5mg capsules - 209 packs - delivered on 5/17/2022- see news tab for details and pictures
Sterile Potassium/Chloride 10ml - 5,000 quantity - delivered on 5/25/2022- see news tab for details and pictures
Cefotaxime kalfoxim -1G-1s - 3,000 vials of injection - delivered on 6/30/2022 - see news tab for details and pictures
Ethosuximide 250mg capsules of 1,176 - delivered on 8/25/2022 - see news tab for details and pictures
Hydrocortisone 100mg tablets of 130 - delivered on 8/25/2022 - see news tab for details and pictures
College of Endocrinologists - Sri Lanka - $9,960.00 worth of the following medications,
College of Transfusion Physicians - Sri Lanka - $10,000 worth of Triple blood bags - We partnered up with SLMANA East Coast to purchase a combined 3,600 bags
We purchased 1,820 qty of bags - delivered on 9/2/2022
College of Anesthesiologists - Sri Lanka - $6,690 worth of the following,
College of Physicians - Sri Lanka - $4,440 worth of the following,
Tacrolimus .5mg - 450 qty - delivered 5/17/2022 - see news tab for details and pictures
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka - Colombo 10 - $9,575 worth of the following,
Teaching Hospital Karapitiya - Galle - Sri Lanka - $3,567 worth of the following,
Emergency Projects - 2021 to help Sri Lanka. SLMANA-WR collected, purchased and donated $81,303.52 or Rs.16,260,600.00 worth of medical equipment. Below is a summary of beneficiaries - Projects Completed!
Emergency Project #1 - Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubovila, Sri Lanka - High Dependency Unit to treat severely injured patients. SLMANA WR collected $28,705 or Rs.5,712,295.00 in donations for this project. So far SLMANA WR has donated $28,705 or Rs.5,712,295.00 worth of the following equipment. High flow nasal cannula oxygen system with breathing tubes, BiPAP machines, Multipara Monitors and Intermittent pneumatic compressor devices.
Emergency Project #2 - The National Hospital, Colombo - 10, Sri Lanka - Medical Equipment request for Covid 19 Patients. SLMANA WR collected $13,000 or Rs.2,610,98.00 in donations for this project. So far SLMANA WR has donated $12,943 or Rs.2,575,657.00 worth of equipment comprising of BiPAP machines & accessories.
Emergency Project #3 - Equipment purchase for Rural Hospitals in the Kurunagala and Puttalum Districts, Sri Lanka - First Phase was completed with the purchase of $23,824 or Rs.4,764,800.00 worth of Oxygen related equipment that included Oxygen concentrators, oxygen regulators, high flow nasal cannulas, venturi devices and NRB masks. This much required equipment was delivered to 8 rural Hospitals in Kurunagala District and 3 rural Hospitals in Puttalum District. This was possible due to all donations made by generous donors. Second Phase, we purchased $15,832 or Rs.3,166,400.00 worth of Multipara Monitors and ECG machines for the Rural Hospitals of Kurunagala, Sri Lanka.
SLMANA-WR - Emergency Projects for 2020- Raised $29,750 and donated $32,500 - Projects Completed!
Donated $3,500 to the Los Angeles Mayors Fund towards the L.A. Emergency Covid-19 Crisis Fund. With our donation, we requested to fund much needed PPE for Los Angeles Health Care Community
With partnership of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, we are helping The National Institute of Infectious Disease to purchase much needed equipment such as ICU Beds, an AmbuScope with Monitor, a Linear probe for the USS machine and televisions. We are also providing much needed N95. masks. We raised $26,250 from generous donors in Los Angeles to support this project
April of 2020, The Homagama Base Hospital requested a donation of $2,780 to purchase Aluminum Partitions for the Outpatient Department. Dr. Walter Jayasinghe made the full donation to SLMANA West to make this happen for This Base hospital which is named as a center for suspected patients with Covid-19
The Kola Kanda project - 2020. Funds raised from the Gala in 2014. We allocated $10,000 to serve 470 students through our Kola Kanda Project at Palugaswanguwa Maha Vidyalaya school in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The last distribution of $3,333 was made in December of 2020. This project was ongoing with another $10,000 allocated on top of the initial distribution to serve for the years 2017, 2018 & 2020 - Project Completed!
Gala 2019 - “Make A Difference” Fundraiser Dinner Dance at The Jonathan Club, Los Angeles, CA - Raised $165,976 for the following three projects - Projects Completed!
SLMANA West successfully completed the New Obstetrics and Gynecology High Dependency Unit at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital with their request of $20,000. We funded with CTG machines, IV infusion pumps, 5 ICU beds and 5 multipara-monitors - Project Completed!
This project was completed in November of 2022
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) project at the National Chest Hospital - Request amount $22,500. Project Completed!
This project was completed in February of 2020. The machine was delivered to the National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases at Welisara, Ragama, Sri Lanka
Indira Cancer Trust project - Request amount of $800,000 - Currently ongoing fundraising! So far SLMANA West has raised $800,000 from generous donors. Project completed in June of 2023!
Trail Fundraiser 2017 - San Marino, CA - Raised and donated $125,000 - Project Completed!
Raised and donated an impressive $125,000 in support of TRAIL in January of 2017. SLMANA-WR was ranked as the #1 International organization who collected the most amount of funds and their largest donor aside from the corporate donors
Emergency Project 2015 - Raised and funded $5,000 - Project Completed!
with partnership of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, we helped reconstruct a computer lab for Nambapana Kanishta Vidyalaya in Ingriya after the floods of 2015. This projected was completed in 2017. We raised $5,000 from the generous contributions of our committee members to support this project
Calculus for a Cause Project - 2017 - Pasadena, CA - Raised and funded $8,000 - Project Completed!
Raised $8,000 from an annual fundraiser organized by Ruth Moonasinghe along with the South Pasadena School District. These funds were distributed equally to Hope for Children project and the Sahanaya Project
Gala 2016 - Night of Hope - Los Angeles, CA - Raised $140,000 - Projects Completed!
At the end of 2018, SLMANA-WR Inc., fully funded with $70,000 the “Hope for Children” project with support from the Lions Club International to help underprivileged children in Sri Lanka who are affected with cancer. This was one of the two projects SLMANA-WR Inc., raised funds from the “Night of Hope” Gala in 2016
Secured $70,000 for the Sahanaya project, which laid the groundwork for a community resource center at the National Council for Mental Health (NCMH). This project was completed.
Gala 2014 - Fall Gala - Los Angeles, CA - Raised $35,000 - Projects Completed!
From funds raised from the Gala 2014, secured almost $35,000 for equipment for the Kurunagala Hospital, including a Sagital Micro saw
Also, from the funds raised from the Gala in 2014, we allocated $10,000 to served 470 students through our Kola Kanda Project at Palugaswanguwa Maha Vidyalaya school in the North Central Province. The distribution was done in installments. This project was concluded with another $10,000 allocated on top of the initial distribution to serve for the years 2017, 2018 & 2019
Gala 2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Raised $18,000 - Project Completed!
Raised funds to refurbish the Colombo Medical School Library with brand new medical books
Gala 2010 - Las Vegas, NV - Raised $20,000 - Projects Completed!
Distributed much needed medical and surgical equipment worth $10,000 to the Jaffna General Hospital ICU and $10,000 worth of books to the Jaffna Medical School which was devastated by the 30-year civil war
World Children's Initiative 2006 - 2008 - Raised $75,000 - Project Completed!
Supported tsunami relief in the amount of $75,000 for the construction of a Pediatric ICU (Project Peds) and towards rebuilding Matara General Hospital that was destroyed by the Tsunami
Educate a Child project - Raised $200,000 - Project Completed!
Helped collect $200,000 for the Educate A Child project in Sri Lanka in collaboration with other Non-profits organizations
Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief 2004 - Raised $50,000 - Project Completed!
SLMANA in collaboration with The Sri Lanka Foundation built homes destroyed by the Tsunami
Gala 2000 - Colombo, SL - Raised $10,000 - Project Completed!
In 2000, SLMANA WR, donated an Ultrasound machine and a Sonography Machine worth $10,000 to the Colombo General Hospital
Gala 1998 - Dinner Dance - Raised $10,000 - Project Completed!
Purchased over $10,000 worth of surgical instruments for the Pediatric Cardiac Program at the National Hospital in Colombo Children’s Heart Center. This was the Children’s Heart Project
Below are some of the highlights of Past Projects of SLMANA-WR
SLMANA-WR Inc.’s Leadership
The Leadership of SLMANA-WR Inc., is comprised of physicians from many disciplines as well as non-physicians. In 2024, SLMANA-WR, elected a new Board that will serve for 3 years. The chairman of the Board is Dr. Kumari Wickramasinghe. Our current Executive committee headed by Dr. Duminda Suraweera, President, was elected in March of 2023, and will serve for two calendar years. Please learn more about our esteemed Committee Members here. The current Executive committee will complete their 2 years of service in 2025.
Our Current ongoing Projects
Suwa Arana - “A Place for Healing” by Indira Cancer Trust - current ongoing project
Cancer is one of four diseases that causes approximately 65% of all deaths in Sri Lanka. Although the pediatric cancer cases in Sri Lanka are rare, authorities admit that the numbers are growing. Apeksha Hospital Maharagama, which was established in 1958 is Sri Lanka's premier institute for Cancer treatment, as well as the only specialized pediatric cancer management facility available in Sri Lanka.
The annual new patient load at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama is around 650, while outpatient clinics see around 100 a day. Leukemia is the most prevalent cancer in children below the age of 15 years. Out of all cancer patients in the age group of 0-14 years in Sri Lanka, 44% of males and 37.9% females are suffering from leukemia. There are approximately 150 patients warded at any one time at the Apeksha Hospital. One of the main difficulties that is being faced is the need for accommodation for pediatric patients as the treatment regime tends to be long and intermittent which doesn’t allow them to go home and return for treatment due to financial constraints and the child being unwell in the majority of instances.
Suwa Arana - A place for healing, will be a care center for pediatric cancer patients and their families unlike any other facility in Sri Lanka. This will be a center for special end of life care for children, where the whole family can be together during this exceedingly difficult time. In addition to palliative care, Suwa Arana also offers housing for families that travel from all over the island to find treatment for their cancer-stricken children at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. Suwa Arana is located walking distance from Apeksha Hospital and will provide room and board for the child and their family while treatment is in progress, which can take weeks or months, without the added burden of incurring the cost of accommodation and food.
The 6-floor building will have a reception, dining room with patio providing home cooked meals, play area, launderette and a roof top garden where a range of activities will be conducted. Each floor allocated to patient care will have 8 family en suite rooms. There will also be a single floor dedicated to all the operations of Indira Cancer Trust so that walk-in patients, both adult and pediatric, can also be supported through the many other services offered by ICT.
For over 17 years, the mission of SLMANA West has been to bring together professionals and students living in the United States and Canada for charitable and humanitarian purposes which shall include the prevention of diseases, care and treatment of the sick, injured, afflicted, infirm, disabled, or destitute persons.
Pediatric Cancer in Sri Lanka
This project is providing not only accommodation but will initiate Sri Lanka’s first Palliative Care Centre for children.
This year ICT and SLMANA West are joining forces to build the first Pediatric Palliative Care Centre in Sri Lanka, Suwa Arana, ‘A Place for Healing’ - which will also provide housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families whilst undergoing treatment. This is made possible by the very generous donation from SLMANA members in the USA, because of their humanitarian concern for lack of pediatric palliative care facilities in Sri Lanka. Indira Cancer Trust (ICT) has become a beacon of hope for cancer patients and their families in Sri Lanka. Initiated in 2016, following the tragic death caused by breast cancer of a 40-year-old mother of two - Indira Jayasuriya, we are committed to supporting those that have been impacted by cancer. Our objectives at ICT are to support prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Over 20 different projects that support patients with all types of cancer are done by Indira Cancer Trust. All work is done in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Professional Colleges and the World Health Organization.
To make a tax-deductible donation: All donations can be made via
· Zelle through slmanawest@gmail.com
· On this website: www.slmanawest.org and go to Donate
· Mailing a Check made out to “SLMANA West” and mail it to c/o M. Jayawardena, 2308 Schader Dr, 301, Santa Monica, CA 90404
from funds raised from “Make a Difference” Gala 2019
Indira Cancer Trust, “Suwa Arana” a place for healing.
The goal for this project is $800,000. That is to build the first 3 floors on a 6 story building. It will be Sri Lanka’s first Pediatric Palliative care center Housing project. The Gala raised $124,505.44 from very generous donors. Since then we have collected an additional $347,000 from generous donors to bring the total collected to $471,505.44. Ground breaking happened on 2/15/21 and the construction started in March 2021.
We are still collecting donations for this project.
To make a tax-deductible donation: All donations can be made via
· Zelle through slmanawest@gmail.com
· On this website: www.slmanawest.org and go to Donate
· Mailing a Check made out to SLMANA West and mail it to c/o M. Jayawardena, 2308 Schader Dr, 301, Santa Monica, CA 90404
from the Funds raised from “Night of Hope” Gala 2016
Community Resource Center at the National Council for Mental Health
A community resource center at the National Council for Mental Health or NCMH also known as Sahanaya, a non-profit non-governmental organization, was established in 1982 and is a registered charity in Sri Lanka. Sahanaya is a unique and novel venture (and the first in Sri Lanka) and aims to increase much needed awareness of the prevalence, causes, stigma and effective treatment and care options available. The center will be an invaluable resource for the community at large to understand and appreciate mental illness better and also for patients with mental illness and their families. Please visit their website at http://www.sric.lk