A Double Whammy

John blogs ...

Senake standing proudly beside Cancer Screening equipment

Papaya and apricot jam on pancakes with black tea and fruit juice for breakfast. Off to Cancer Screening Centre in Colombo – a project partnership between Rotary Club of Colombo. Premises are leased (using funds raised by the Club) and plans for new building progressing. Potential to screen 10 women a day for various cancers. Sadly, a radiographer (from the government) only works 2 hours a week (!!!) Enough said.

Then get some phone and internet credit from very helpful fluent assistant. I’m in touch again. Whoopee! Advice to any future team leaders to get communications sorted as an early priority, and create time for this when sorting the itinerary. And this is likely to take some time.

At Rotary Club of Colombo

Lunchtime meeting with Rotary Club of Columbo. Short presentation - went well. Another speaker from IMF shared data/graphs about Sri Lanka’s economic future and potential in the changing world. Suggested there was plenty of opportunity to trade more with India and China.

Michael Chappel, Principal of Colombo International School

Afternoon meeting with Michael Chappell, Principal of CIS (Colombo International School). A top private school which sends many students to the very best universities across the world. Where are the top universities in Sri Lanka? Students all come from affluent families, the previous President of Sri Lanka sent his children here. There is a 30 period week, many teachers have a face-to-face commitment of 14-17 teaching sessions. Discussed facilities (excellent), curriculum (if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it) staffing (most Heads of Department are ex-pats and male, teachers tend to stay in their jobs a long time and top-up salary by taking students privately) and leadership (frequent daily meetings with the owner – a Sri Lankan – and the Finance Director to discuss projects). Given a tour of the school – swimming pool is underused as Sri Lankans tend not to like swimming. A little strange for a small island. Large cricket oval is next to Colombo Cricket ground. Feels very elite and different to my previous state school experience. Same the world over. They run an Interact Club (140 students) but without close links with a Rotary Club they have to stop using that name.

With Rotaracters from Battaramulla Club

Evening meeting at Rotary Club of Battaramulla (Rotabatts). Very friendly, wanted 15 minute presentation followed by question and answers. Too short really to get full sotry of the team across. However, engaging conversation, good fellowship (whisky again) and string hoppers with curry to eat.

Back to Senake’s home to Skype.