| UK Charity : Restoring democracy in the administration of Sri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Temple Trust |
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 The worshipers of the biggest Sri Lankan Hindu charity are pleased to know that due to the intervention and guidance of the charity commission events are now unfolding towards restoring the democracy in the temple administration in order to reflect the aspiration of the Hindu worshipers.
Since 1997 and up to 2005 the executive committee headed by S.Karunalingam has been elected for three consecutive terms with the over whelming majority and uncontested for the forth term by members of the trust in appreciation of the tireless contribution towards uplifting the standard of the underprivileged Hindu in Sri Lanka. The humanitarian relief work includes maintaining orphanages, Elderly homes, Free Computer training centers for Hindus which were highly commented and appreciated.  These particular mission has been appreciated and was encouraged by members of Sri Lankan parliament namely His Right Honorable Minister Candrasekaran and than Minister for Hindu cultural affaires Right Honorable member of parliament Maheswaren after their visits and inspection to the orphanages and schools run by the trust in Sri Lanka. During the tenure of S.Karunalingam the trust was run in an impartial manner and also it is worthy to note that it was non political. The prime object of the trust was based on high principal such has providing relief to the Hindu sufferers of man made and natural disasters. This committee made a historical change and incorporated a provision the trust constitution to allocate minimum of 1/3 of the temple excess fund towards the enhanced projects in order to relief the suffering of the poor Hindus in Sri Lanka.  This particular move of the committee has created a climate among the other Srilankan Hindu trusts specially in United Kingdom and within the expatriate Hindu community around the world to pay there attention in providing relief to the under privileged instead of investing trust fund in property market. This move has created an awareness among the general public and enlightened them of there commitments to offer a helping hand to their fellow Hindus.” The revenue of the temples has rocketed towards Pounds 500,000 per annum after people started pledging their trust on the charitable activities of the trust. They felt that there small contribution however small it may be when it had had gone to a pool of the trust fund that made them to achieve the target which was unimaginable some time in the past.  The committee gained their utmost trust and unquestionable integrity among the general public by the following activities: The trust exhibited its monthly Income and Expenditure accounts on the notice board for the attention and inspection of the general public. The donation boxes was opened in front of the devotees and the monies were counted by devotees who attended the temple. The Committee meetings were held in the main hall so that all the devotees were able to view and listen to the decisions and allocation of funds to Sri Lankan projects taken by the committee. The trust opened several orphanages in the name of London Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Orphanage and names and details of the children and photographs were published in the temple website and temple notice board. The trust opened several FREE Computer centers in the name of “London Kanaga Thurkkai Amman Free Computer center” and detailed and photographs were published in the temple website and temple notice board. Centre in Jaffna was opened by the Right Honorable Member of European Parliament Robert Evens who eventually visited the trust and praised the several projects”of the trust in Sri Lanka which he visited in 2005. Mr. Robert Evens MEP also visited the projects done by the trust towards the victims of tsunami.  The trust opened “London Free Swing Training Center ”to help the Widows to rebuild their life. The trust gave grants to poor University students in the name of the trust. The donation accumulated to Ponuds 712,000 within 5 years. The trust started free Hindu and Tamil classes on Sundays to devotees. The main hall of the temple was offered free of charge to enhance cultural activities based on enlightenment of the Hindu principal. The committees dealings were always transparent to the devotees.” The conduct of the committee was so simple and straight forward without any strengthened bureaucracy attached to it, thus created an atmosphere for everyone to feel that it is the temple of the people to the people and by the people . -JR |
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