Skål International Kuala Lumpur, represented by its PR & Communications Director Rowena Hawkins, accompanied by Skål International Past President Richard Hawkins, flew to Colombo in June to meet up with counterparts Keethi & Dushy Jayaweera from Skål International Colombo to orchestrate a joint charity drive to donate more than 40 kg of clothing, apparel and other treats to the ‘respectable poor’ at the Dehiwela Church Parish.

The visitors were hosted at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, which served as the Congress Hotel during the remarkably successful 2025 Asian Area Congress.  

The Taj served as the Meeting point for the Executive Committee of Skål International Colombo to gather on the evening of the 25th June to receive the 40 kg of donations, and as an added double bonus, to be hosted to a superb crab dinner at the Hotel to celebrate Skålleague Rowena Hawkins' birthday at the same time.

In attendance were Skål International Colombo PP Ahintha Amarasinghe, current President Bernard Wijetunge and his spouse, PR Director Dinushka Chandransena, Shamali de Vaz and her Spouse, Denesh Silva, Keethi & Dushy Jayaweera, Suranjith Seneviratne and the hosts, Richard & Rowena Hawkins.

Back Row L – R:  PP Ahintha Amarasinghe; Mahendra De Vaz; Shamali de Vaz; Mrs. Bernard Wijetunga; Dinushka Chandrasena; Dushy Jayaweera; Bernard Wijetunga; SI PP Richard Hawkins; Keethi Jayaweera  | Front Seated:  Denesh Silva; Rowena Hawkins

Mr Samrat Datta - Area Director of Taj Maldives and Sri Lanka hotels, and himself an active Skål member of the Colombo Chapter, ably assisted by Ms Onitha Gurugalla, the Public Relations Manager of Taj Samudra, Colombo, and also herself a Member of Skål International Colombo, truly outdid themselves over and above the normal parameters of hospitality by extending every courtesy to the occasion and ensured that the outstanding celebratory dinner was abundant with local Sri Lankan crabs and replete with other local culinary delights. 

The evening concluded with a beautiful chocolate ganache birthday cake for Rowena, courtesy of the Taj.  

Skål International encourages its Clubs and Membership to always be mindful of engaging in charitable and sustainability activities.  This charitable drive activity was not just the effort of one Club in the Asian Area, but of two. Twice As Nice!

One would be hard-pressed to find a more meaningful way to mark one’s birthday than to do something charitable for the less fortunate and celebrate with fellow Skål members and friends!