Prarthana 8.0 Phase Two: Painting a Future of Religious Harmony and Unity

 

Prarthana 8.0 Phase Two: Painting a Future of Religious Harmony and Unity

 

The heart of every great community is the spirit of selfless service and unity. Leo Club of University of Colombo proudly celebrates the successful completion of the second phase of the "Prarthana 8.0" community service project, organized for the eighth time. The aim of this important project is to contribute financially, materially and in hard work to the renovation of religious places scattered across Sri Lanka. Prarthana 8.0 is a program that goes beyond a social service project and adds a valuable message to the society. It is a journey of compassion that has reached its eighth successful milestone. We are happy to have successfully completed the second phase, a two-day initiative dedicated to the revitalization of two local religious places in our community. Our aim in this phase is not limited to renovations alone, but to breathe new life into the places that give us spiritual peace and create an environment where people who come to seek spiritual healing can easily access it.

 Why We Chose This Project

The primary motivation behind choosing this project for Prarthana 8.0 (Phase 2) was to create unity within our community, that is, to bring together our own brothers representing different ethnicities who are involved in this project, to give a valuable message to the society and to show that everyone should move forward as Sri Lankan people, breaking down various cultural, religious and social barriers.

And by choosing a temple and a mosque for our restoration and cleaning campaign, we aimed to send a strong message of religious harmony and inclusion. We believe that sacred spaces, regardless of faith, should be sanctuaries of peace and purity. Our goal was not just to apply fresh paint or remove debris, but to revitalize these spiritual canters so that devotees seeking solace could find solace in a more pleasant environment. Ultimately, we wanted to show that when we work together with our hands and hearts, we can preserve the beauty of our heritage while building bridges of brotherhood across different cultures.

Fundraising and Sponsorship

To successfully complete second phase of our valuable program, Vidyarathne Enterprises and Vidyarathne Power Tools provided us with all the necessary material support, and our committee members actively engaged in fundraising activities, selling tickets and bookmarks at Viharamahadevi Park and Gall Face. In addition to this activity, various generous individuals donated to support our project, which enabled us to raise funds for the second phase of the project.

Second stage resuscitation

The second phase of our project. Prayeroots was held over two days and the first day was scheduled to be held on February 21, 2026, at the Sri Susilodaya Pirivena Temple in Dehiowita from 7.30 am. On the scheduled day, all the project committee members arrived in the morning, met the incumbent of the temple and sought blessings and started our work. There, we cleaned and washed the area around the temple, selected the necessary places, repaired the broken places, painted and renovated them and gave the temple a new look.

The second phase of our project, Prayeroots, was scheduled to take place on the second day of the two-day program on February 28, 2026, at the Holy Spirit Church in Kochchikade, Negombo from 7.30 am. On that day, as usual, all the project committee members arrived in the morning, met the head priest of the church, and after a short blessing program, we officially started our work forthe day. There, we cleaned and washed the area around the church, selected the necessary places, repaired the broken places, painted and renovated, and gave the church a fresh look.

A Step Toward a Bigger Mission

As we conclude the second phase of Prarthana 8.0, we look back with immense pride and gratitude. What began as a simple cleaning and painting project transformed into a profound journey of teamwork and spiritual connection. Seeing the renewed brightness of the temple and the church was rewarding, but the true success lies in the smiles of the local community and the bonds we strengthened among ourselves. This project reminds us that small acts of service, when done with pure intention, can create a lasting impact. As we move forward, we will carry with us the spirit of unity and commitment, eager to continue our mission of brightening the world.

 

 -By Leo Tharusha Fernando