So Others May See, a vision care programme sponsored by the Chairman of Hotel Renuka and Renuka City Hotel, Ravi Thambiayah and its Board of Directors, was held for the people of Kayts and neighbouring islands in memory of the late Alfred Leo Thambiayah (MP for Kayts 1947 to 1956) on his 110th birth anniversary.
A non-profit organisation, So Others May See Inc. (SOMS) organised this vision care programme based on a request received from the Jaffna RDHS, Dr Ketheswaran. SOMS collaborated with the Jaffna RDHS and local MOH offices and the Vision 2020 Secretariat to conduct a series of mobile clinics. The programme began at the Kayts Base Hospital as a full-day clinic and continued with half-day clinics at other islands’ divisional hospitals. Dr Ketheswaran and his team of MOHs and their staff advertised the clinic and pre-screen and identified all those with vision impairment. It was anticipated that there would be about 500-600 patients who are in need of eyeglasses but are unable to afford them while about 250 cataract patients would need surgery.
Ravi Thambiayah, the Chairman of Hotel Renuka and Renuka City Hotel said that this vision care programme was arranged in memory of his late father, Alfred Leo Thambiayah who served the people of the Kayts electorate for ten years including the areas of Karampan, Velanai, Pungudutivu, Narantanai, Suruvil, Mandathivu, Saravanai, Nainativu, Analaitivu, Karainagar and Delft. “He was an entity by himself who provided employment, assistance and remedy to thousands of people in his long successful career as a businessman, social worker, politician and philanthropist. His sweeping victory in the 1947 elections at Kayts was an indication of his personal popularity and the gratitude of the people of Kayts for all the unconditional support they received from him.”
“Though he was a resident of Colombo, he never lost touch with his birthplace, Kayts and can be claimed as one of its true and loyal sons. He was a man of integrity who firmly believed in responsive cooperation than isolation. Selfless and generous, he was a personification of the classical gentleman who would fit into any people group, whether it be social, commercial or political.”
“My father had always been actively involved in the welfare of the people of Kayts and the neighboring islands and on the occasion of his 110th birth anniversary we wanted to honour his memory by funding a useful programme that would benefit the people he cared for so deeply. Thus we have partnered with So Others May See Inc. in making his passion stay alive even after his demise,” said Ravi Thambiayah.
