The Ceylon Fellowship of Service is an association formed in 1962 by 2 English and 2 Sri Lankan gentlemen with the idea of starting a Home for the mentally handicapped. Since 1962, the members of the Fellowship has changed but the Home is presently a community for 80 multiple handicapped people.

The Home is situated on 3 l/2 acres of land by the sea, at Hendala, ten miles north of Colombo. It consists of 6 cottages for housing the residents. Bates and Prithi Cottages house 38 girls and Norad, Rosi, Canada and Jayawardane Cottages house 44 boys.

The residents are taught handicrafts such as sewing, coir work, rush mat weaving and envelope making. We also have contract work with a local factory.

The severely handicapped: These attend daily sessions at "Special School". Here, the house mothers take turns to supervise them, play and exercise. This way they are kept stimulated and are part of the community.

With a few exceptions the majority are mentally handicapped and many have associated physical handicaps. The ages range from 9-50 years. The majority are teenagers. For many, this is their only Home and they have grown up here. Some are assistant staff members and play an important part in the running of the Home.

At the present time, there are 47 boys and 33 girls, of these, 30 are severely handicapped.

The home is a Community Home rather than a traditional Institution.

At present, 2 Lady Volunteers from Horizon Holland attend to the physiotherapy and also, to the day-to-day recreational needs of the residents.

The Ceylon Fellowship of Service is a Government approved charity. The Department of Social Services gives a grant of Rs. 300 per resident/month.

The problems: Operational cost of running the Fellowship is about Rs. 140,000 a month.

The Annual Exhibition & Sale of the Prithipura Home sponsored by the Ceylon Fellowship of Service will be held on November 7, 2001 from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre, No. 18, Guildford Crescent, Colombo 7.

Mr. Allen Walkingshaw, Managing Director, Coats Thread Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., will be the chief guest on this occasion.