By Marlon Dale Ferreira reporting from Los Angeles, California
Sri Lanka Foundation International (SLFI), headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is launching the “Light Up a Life” campaign to coincide with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on April 13th and 14th, 2025. This initiative aims to empower underprivileged communities across Sri Lanka through two concurrent projects: “Essentials for Pregnant Women” and “Fighting Chronic Kidney Disease.”
Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, SLF’s Chairman, a philanthropist who over the years has contributed in a magnanimous manner providing support to the underprivileged and the needy has appointed Farida Chittalwala as the Ambassador for Projects & Development to lead these humanitarian efforts. Farida brings extensive experience from her involvement in various local and international philanthropic endeavors. Notably, she has led numerous successful Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives worldwide as a Chairperson, passionately advocating for women’s empowerment and the advancement of child development.
Farida founded the “She Grows in the World” project, addressing food and water security challenges exacerbated by climate change and promoting sustainable solutions for affected communities by introducing transformatory solutions for agriculture enabling female farming communities be more productive. Her exemplary work in combating human trafficking was recently recognized by Orange County, with Supervisor Doug Chaffee and Vice Chair Katrina Foley lauding her significant contributions to human rights advocacy.
Farida is passionately devoted to uplifting women, especially those grappling with domestic violence, financial hardship, and the daily struggle to provide essentials for their children. Equally, she is committed to supporting individuals battling chronic kidney disease, a cause she has actively championed through numerous initiatives. These include delivering access to clean, safe drinking water and organizing medical camps and clinics in high-risk regions across Sri Lanka. Her widespread travels throughout the country have given her a deep, firsthand understanding of these challenges, enabling her to develop and implement meaningful, results-driven programs that address both women’s empowerment and critical health needs.
SLFI’s Ambassador Farida Chittalwala invites corporates to join hands
In her quest to drive amazing charity projects, Farida invites Corporates, business entreprenuers and well wishers especially those living overseas and who want to give back to marginalized communities back home to join hands with the SLFI, as she believes that synergy is the key to achieving greater results.
Highlighting this vision, Farida stated, “I’m reaching out to propose a transformative partnership that can redefine the way corporates engage with social responsibility. Our goal is to create robust CSR projects that not only drive meaningful impact but also foster sustainable relationships between businesses, foundations, and organizations dedicated to empowering humanity.”
She added, “We are now reaching out to Sri Lankan corporates, urging them to come forward and support our vision for a better tomorrow for the future of Sri Lanka. We believe that together, we can create a lasting impact and drive positive change in our communities.”
We envision a future where underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka are financially, emotionally, and socially stable, with access to:
- Quality education and resources
- Healthcare initiatives and medical care
- Economic development and livelihood programs
- Clean drinking water and sanitation
To achieve this, we suggest collaborating with us to develop and implement impactful CSR projects that:
- Align with your company’s values and mission
- Support our “Light Up a Life” campaign, empowering underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka
- Foster long-term relationships with foundations and organizations dedicated to social service
By partnering with us, your organization can:
- Enhance its social responsibility profile
- Demonstrate commitment to sustainable development
- Empower underprivileged communities to break the cycle of poverty
Enhance its social responsibility profile
- Demonstrate commitment to sustainable development
- Empower underprivileged communities to break the cycle of poverty
As we celebrate the New Year, let us embrace the opportunity to extend our blessings to those in need, reaffirming the timeless truth that in giving, we receive.
Your support in this endeavour can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need.
Through this collaborative effort, the SLFI embodies a win-win-win scenario: empowering beneficiaries, fulfilling the altruistic aspirations of donors, and advancing the organization’s mission of providing compassionate service.
How You Can Help:
Together, we can make this New Year a memorable and joyous occasion for everyone.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
