Three Days, Thousands of Lives: How Gammedda United a Nation in Care

COLOMBO (News 1st); With renewed hope, compassion, and a firm belief in rising together, a powerful movement of care swept across Sri Lanka’s hill country this January—rekindling strength in communities still bearing the scars of hardship.

Driven by the mission of restoring dignity and rebuilding lives, the Gammedda Care & Dare Operation, supported by the Minderoo Foundation of Australia, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations, launched its journey on January 10 from Kotmale, standing shoulder to shoulder with the people in their path toward recovery.

The second phase of the Gammedda Care & Dare initiative unfolded over three days beginning January 24, centering on the Badulla District, bringing essential services, relief, and renewed hope directly to affected communities.

The programme commenced on January 24 at Passara Central College, where people from surrounding areas gathered with faith and anticipation. 

Throughout the day, families were able to access a wide spectrum of vital services,all under one roof.

Legal assistance, national identity documentation services, support for replacing lost documents, vocational guidance, psychological counselling, and distributions of essential food items were provided seamlessly through the familiar, trusted structure of Gammedda’s ten-service-zone model.

A healthcare zone, operating with the support of the Ministry of Health and the Sri Lanka Air Force, delivered medical services to those in need. Special focus was given to pregnant mothers and young children, with nutrition packs distributed to safeguard maternal and child wellbeing.

Separate zones ensured the dignified distribution of hygiene kits for both women and men, while families impacted by disasters received essential dry rations, household equipment, water filtration units, and gas cookers, practical tools to restore normalcy to everyday life.

A notable feature of the day was the legal services zone, established with the collaboration of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, offering guidance and relief to those navigating legal uncertainties. In parallel, a dedicated documentation zone assisted citizens with certificates, official records, and identity cards.

Standing firmly alongside the rebuilding effort, the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) joined hands with the initiative, offering career guidance and vocational pathways, helping people look beyond survival and toward sustainable livelihoods.

On January 25, the Care & Dare mission moved to Madolsima Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, where the third programme of the phase was conducted from morning to evening with equal intensity and compassion.

Once again, people accessed legal services, documentation support, psychological counselling, vocational guidance, healthcare, and essential food assistance, all provided in a single, welcoming space.

Health services, supported by the Ministry of Health and the Air Force, continued uninterrupted. Nutrition packs reached expectant mothers and children, hygiene kits were distributed to both men and women, and families affected by adversity received dry food rations, household goods, water filters, and gas stoves essential for daily living.

Legal aid and document services remained a critical pillar of the Madolsima camp, ensuring that no citizen was left unheard or undocumented. NAITA once again extended its support, empowering individuals with career guidance to help rebuild futures weakened by crisis.

The three-day effort concluded successfully on January 26 at the Welimada Diwurumpola Purana Rajamaha Viharaya, a place of deep spiritual significance, perfectly reflecting the programme’s essence of healing, unity, and renewal.

Here too, the people were offered legal advice, identity and documentation services, vocational guidance, psychological support, and essential food supplies, along with comprehensive healthcare services delivered in collaboration with national institutions.

Nutrition packs for pregnant women and young children, hygiene kits, disaster-relief dry rations, household appliances, water filtration systems, and gas cookers were distributed throughout the day—touching lives with care rooted in respect.

Legal services supported by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and dedicated document assistance zones once again ensured justice, dignity, and continuity for citizens rebuilding their lives. NAITA’s presence reaffirmed a shared promise: that recovery must also lead to opportunity.

This was not merely a relief operation. It was a reminder.

That we must be strong.
That pain can remain in the past.
That together, we can rise again.
We survive together.
We stand together.
We rise together.
Gammedda. With the people. For the people.