HEART TO HEART TRUST FUND – The heart that gives gathers
It is written, “We are not given a good life or a bad life. And it’s up to you to make it good or bad.” But sometimes it’s beyond our control to make our life good, or even better than its challenging present. The Heart To Heart Trust Fund - an initiative that demonstrates the power of the will, personal courage and inspires hope is that ti
mely refuge that has saved thousands from the storm and returned them to enjoy the fullness of life. Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva, the young Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and his mentor Dr. Ruvan Ekanayaka, the eminent Consultant Cardiologist having observed the hardship faced by the poor, needy and underprivileged to perform heart surgeries, dwelled into this Trust Fund to assist them financially. The young Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva pioneered the Keyhole Cardiac Surgery in the country. Dr. Ruvan Ekanayaka has many accolades to his credit – setting up the Karapitiya Heart Unit in Galle, introduced music therapy for heart patients. THE OBJECTIVE
It was when Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva was working as a cardiac surgeon at the General Hospital in Colombo that he came face to face with this reality and it was through these devastating experiences that he developed the concept of developing a fund to help poor patients to access cardiac surgery from the fee-levying sector in situations where waiting patiently for one’s turn on the long waiting list could be fraught with risk and danger. Dr Ruvan Ekanayaka the then Consultant Cardiologist at the General Hospital in Colombo shared with him the same vision of wanting to save the lives of impoverished heart patients, and together they established the Heart to Heart Trust Fund in 2014. It is our belief that no heart patient in our country should lose his or her life on account of financial impoverishment. This is the idea that gives life and blood to the Heart to Heart Trust Fund. While the initiative of the two doctors is most praiseworthy in igniting the spark, what has followed has turned it into a flame, that has been burning with the generosity, the kindness and the love of our nation’s people – Sri Lankans, irrespective of status, race or religion, have given of their best to save lives, an affirmation of the fact that one doesn’t have to be rich to be generous. BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND
The selection process is transparent and unbiased and meticulous. The process is facilitated by the medical reports that accompany a patient’s request, which is duly validated by the cardiologist/team of doctors. The panel screening a request probes all aspects of a patient’s background to determine the individual’s suitability for assistance, such as financial status and the ability to bear at least some extent of the entire cost, while supporting the rest with money allocated from the trust fund. CHARITABLE FUND
“Heart to Heart Trust Fund is wholly and entirely a Charitable fund. We depend 100% on donations and we plan to perform free heart surgeries on patients as when we collect sufficient funds." Donations from individuals and from institutional and corporate entities.
2. Fund raising events, organized by our group of volunteers most of when were once heart patients who have now fully recovered and work hard when required to achieve our goals and objectives. In addition we also raise funds by working in collaboration with organizations such as the Lions Club.
3. The Abhayadanaya Programme. The contribution of the following individuals is indeed praiseworthy as they worked together to make this trust fund a success. Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva - Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr. Ruvan Ekanayaka - Consultant Cardiologist
Mr. Nimal Bandara - former Chairman, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital
Mr. Murshid Mahroof – Attorney-at-Law
Mr. Nelun Senanayake – Attorney-at-Law
The Ahungalle Diamond Star Lions Club – Mr. Indrajith De Silva
Ms. Champa Samarasinghe - Sister in Charge
TRUSTEES (2014-2021)
Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva – Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, SJGH
Dr. Ruvan Ekanayaka – Consultant Cardiologist
Amb. Jayantha Dhanapala – former Diplomat
Mr. Palitha Fernando PC – former Attorney General
Mr. Aruna Shantha De Silva PC – former Legal Draftsman
Dr. Aruna Kapuruge - Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, SJGH
Dr. Mahendra Moonesinghe - Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, NHSL
Dr. Kanishka Indrarathne - Consultant Cardiac Anaesthetist, SJGH
Late Dr. Ravi Pillai – Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Late Mr. Milroy Perera – Chartered Architect
The Chairman, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (Ex-Officio)
Mr. Mahendra Amarasuriya – Philanthropist, International President, Lions Clubs International 2007/2008
Dr. Kumari Jayawardena – Author/social Worker
Mr. Sudath Tennakoon - Chairman, Central Bearings (PVT) Ltd. Jagath Dias (retd.) - former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army
Mr. Sunimal Fernando - Senior Sociologist
Deshamanya Ajita De Zoysa - Philanthropist, Chairman of Kalutara Bodhi Trust and Musaeus College
Mr. Kumar Sangakkara - Captain Sri Lanka Cricket 2009-2011 and President of the Marylebone
Dr. Kumudini Ranatunga - Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist & Intensivist, NHSL
Mrs. Shanti Fernando – Executive Coordinator
Contact: 077344410
Email: [email protected]
Web: heart2hearttrust.org
2021 July