The Saukyadana Movement (SM) had its beginnings in 1960. The catalyst for the conception of such a movement was a pilgrimage to Sripada in 1959 on the Ratnapura route, by a few young doctors and their friends. During their trek they had observed the rather helpless condition of children, mothers, mothers-to-be, the aged and the infirm among the pilgrims, as well as those who had suffered minor injuries, and the plight of the epileptic and the asthmatic, all without any type of medical assistance, barring that which had come from other well meaning pilgrims, in whatever way they could have been of some help. On the conclusion of the pilgrimage the friends had decided that it was necessary to afford some organized assistance to the pilgrims to Sripada, and so commenced the SM in 1960. With volunteers from the medical profession, medical students, friends, and relatives, health-aid camps were established on the route to Sripada, to afford medical as well as other assistance to the pilgrims. The volunteers bore their own expenses, and drugs were purchased with pooled resources, while some donations too were received from pharmaceutical companies. This first camp, in 1960, proved to be extremely beneficial to the pilgrims, and also very satisfying to the volunteers and organizers. From that beginning the SM extended its service camps to all religious functions in the island, such as at Kataragama, Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Mahiyangana and Madhu. For the better establishment of the camps, and to provide a more efficient service it also liaised with the Government Agents, police, religious functionaries and other notables where the camps were to be held. In time the SM participated at national functions such as Independence Day celebrations, the annual Esala Perahera in Kandy and other such national events. To provide health education to our youth, and add to make them socially conscious individuals, the SM commenced training students and young men in primary health-care work, and it was later extended to provide such information to bhikkhus, as well as to bhikkhunis, the latter being given additional instructions in mother and child care work. Saukyadana units were established in schools in all parts of the island, and the students who received a course of training in primary health care work, were/are also given certificates. A further service the movement renders is to train nurse-aides on a two months course at very nominal cost. On completion of their training they render invaluable services in hospitals, homes for the aged, in institutions for the disabled, and in homes that need such assistance, the latter, on a nominal payment. The movement also has a group of around seventy volunteers who work on request at the National Hospital, Eye Hospital, and the Dental Institute: for their services they are also given an approved stipend by the government, on days they work. The SM also provides on every Sunday, bedside nursing care to the inmates at the Victoria Home for the Incurables at Nawala, Rajagiriya. At present, it is working out a scheme to provide stress and cancer counseling. Additionally the SM renders assistance during natural calamities such as floods, droughts, and land slides which displaces hundreds of people. During the period 1984-1994 it provided assistance to persons affected by terrorist activities, and also provided free medical assistance to army and police personnel in the conflict areas. Further, by its youth programmes it also assists in combating the drug menace, and other anti-social activities. For its multifarious health and social service activities it needs more volunteers. Hence, the SM requests those who are able to spare a day or two at a time to leave their names and addresses and contact telephone numbers with the movement, so that they could be contacted as and when service camps or training schemes are worked out. The SM extends a special request to young doctors, RMOO, nurses, and medical students in all campuses, to participate as volunteers, to render their services, in these non-traditional working environments, for a better understanding of our community and for their benefit.
