A year gone by with solidarity, fidelity and finesse

Round Table Sri Lanka (RTSL) is a social service organisation comprising nine clubs located around the country with a membership of over 100 members who are known as Tablers. The organisation aims to develop the fellowship among young men through their businesses, professional occupations and community service activities.

These young men who participate in RTSL adhere to the notion that “there are things we must do, things we can do and things we should do.” RTSL fosters the finest principles in commercial, professional and civic traditions, and promotes deeper international understanding, friendship and collaboration. In this way, it encourages Sri Lankans to be engaged and responsible citizens.

Round Table Sri Lanka is a vibrant young men’s organisation that believes in helping each other and giving back to the community.

First established in 1927 in Norwich, England, the Round Table has now spread across the globe. The club was founded by Louis Marchesi who was a young member of the Norwich Rotary Club at the time. He saw the need for a regular meeting place for the city’s up-and-coming business elite.

Marchesi was inspired by a speech made by Prince Edward of Wales at the 1927 British Industries Fair. The Prince observed: “The young business and professional men of this country must get together around the table, adopt methods that have proved so sound in the past, adapt them to the changing needs of the times and wherever possible, improve them.”

He was of the opinion that the issue of change could be solved only through the participation of young people. And he believed this to be a valuable lesson for the world at a time when it was grappling with a looming war and a worldwide economic crisis.

Since that time, the motto ‘Adopt, Adapt and Improve’ has become the rallying cry for Tablers all over the world. “Round Table brings together young men between the ages of 18 and 40 who wish to become responsible citizens,” says National President of Round Table Sri Lanka for 2021/22 Sabir Esufali.

Speaking about the efforts that have been made by the members, he says: “One of the biggest projects we have done in Sri Lanka in recent times is the beach cleanup where 256 people joined in collecting 315 kilogrammes of plastic, 38 kilogrammes of paper and 61 kilogrammes of glass from the beach at Uswetakeiyawa in September 2021.”

Esufali elaborates: “It not only enthused our own Tablers but also brought together a large number of others who were interested in sustainability and conservation of the environment. The project cost Rs. 238,000 but there was no cost to RTSL as the entire amount was borne by a kind sponsor.”

Round Table works with like-minded people in providing a service to the community.

Esufali explains: “We were able to host the Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament with India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Though Nepal was unable to participate, we had an amazing group of Tablers from India; and we managed to combine the cricket fellowship with the Charter of the Jaffna Round Table 10 with the sponsor table Colombo Round Table 1 and Coimbatore North Round Table 20 of India.”

RTSL also collaborated with the Ladies’ Circle of Sri Lanka in the Tea Project where clothes and stationery were donated to 104 students in Kandy. “It is all an initiative of young men being responsible citizens,” he says.

Round Table is all about community service. Last year, RTSL completed the installation of a water pump at the Bogaswewa Maha Vidyalaya in Vavuniya that has 700 students. The cost of the pump and installation was Rs. 100,000 and over a thousand people are benefitting from this project.

In March, a reverse osmosis water purification system was installed at the Gamini Wewa Vidyalaya in Medawachchiya at a cost of Rs. 250,000 in collaboration with several donors. Over 500 persons including 260 students are benefitting from this project.

“Our Water For Future (WFF) project by Colombo Round Table 1 (CRT1) was implemented to provide safe water for identified schoolchildren in Sri Lanka and the aim was to complete 15 projects in three years,” Esufali says.

He adds: “Three projects cost Rs. 745,000. Our target is to provide clean drinking water to 1-2 percent of the population that doesn’t have access to clean water. CRT1 also made a reservation of 2,000 euros to support the community with medical supplies due to the recent shortage of medicines and other essentials, including fuel and gas in the country.”

Esufali also commended the Help Schools Project implemented by Negombo Round Table 7 (NRT7): “They faced many challenges in implementing this project. The biggest was the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they were able to get global recognition among the Round Table International (RTI) community.”

He continues: “Having recognised the importance of long-term funding to make the project sustainable, the ‘Knights of Freedom’ funding platform was created for global Tablers to join hands in this magnanimous gesture. NRT7 also donated some much-needed band equipment worth more than Rs. 400,000 to rural schools in Girandurukotte, which is a backward area in Sri Lanka. The band equipment directly benefits over 45 student band members.”

Esufali adds: “Three schools were each given a computer valued at almost Rs. 500,000. This was a necessity for the schools to conduct their online classes during the pandemic. WiFi facilities were also provided and as a result, thousands of students were able to attend online classes.”

He elaborates: “The total cost of the service projects amounted to Rs. 1,475,000 – i.e. approximately US$ 4,100. A donation of sporting goods, and Western and Eastern musical instruments to St. Anthony’s Maha Vidyalaya, Alagollawa was worth Rs 100,000.”

In 2022, Round Table Sri Lanka organised and hosted the National Leadership conclave. RTSL was also acknowledged as a strategic partner by the Marketing Department of the University of Kelaniya for delivering the Strategy Execution Model of the Certified Marketing Graduate programme. This recognition came as a result of RTSL’s participation in the Certified Marketing Graduate programme.

Throughout the course of the year, joint projects have been carried out, and they involved both community service and camaraderie. Two excellent examples include the Donate Your Excess Program and the holding of an international fellowship event with Ladies’ Circle Sri Lanka and India. Both these initiatives have been quite successful.

Esufali notes: “I am proud to have followed in international footsteps and established the Round Table Sri Lanka Family MOU, which was the highlight of the year. This MOU emphasises that each organisation respects each other as separate with equal rights under one single identity – Round Table Sri Lanka Family.”

He adds: “The respective boards have agreed to work together. The four clubs – 41 Club Sri Lanka, Tangent Club Sri Lanka, Ladies’ Circle Sri Lanka and Round Table Sri Lanka aim to establish and maintain a cohesive network of relationships. They will work together, participate and execute the global Round Table Family initiatives.”

Esufali concludes: “With the help of our four club network, we have built linkages with many donors and businessmen, as well as local and foreign travellers. In doing so, we have helped the people of Sri Lanka to get through a very challenging period in our history by means of donations, tourism and business. I’m grateful to all local and international Tablers who rallied round in this endeavour, and offered a helping hand to the local community during this dreadful economic crisis.”

– Compiled by Isanka Perera

COMPANY DETAILS

Telephone
0773 145311

Email
secretary@rtsrilanka.org

Website
www.rtsrilanka.org