Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Though the Mission started functioning in the island country in 1917 by way of managing a few schools, the centre in Colombo was formally established in 1930. Swami Aksharatmananda is the Swami-in-charge of the centre.

Activities:

1. A library.

2. A Sunday school and a music school.

3. An International Cultural Centre with guestrooms and a library.

4. Lectures and cultural programmes in the ashrama’s Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Hall as well as in other parts of the island.

5. Personality development programmes.

6. Relief and welfare work such as providing food and educational, medical and pecuniary help to the needy.

7. Religious activities: Daily worship, weekly classes, retreats, distribution of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature, and celebration of the birthdays of the Holy Trio and other luminaires and religious festivals.

8. Post-war rehabilitation and welfare centres in Northern Sri Lanka:

   • Urumpirai: Coaching classes, a Sunday school, an ayurveda clinic, and monthly satsang programmes.

   • Kilinochi: Coaching classes and a Sunday school.

   • Visuvamadu: Coaching classes.

   • Point-Pedro welfare centre: Monthly cultural classes.

Batticaloa sub-centre: Situated 350 km northeast of the main centre, activities are spread over five campuses:

A. Ramakrishnapuram (Kallady Uppodai), the central campus:

1. Students’ homes.

2. Nursery schools located 2 km from the sub-centre.

3. A Sunday school.

4. Centre for Human Excellence: Offers certified courses in arts, languages, IT, personality development, and yoga.

5. Inclusive Resource and Training Centre for visually challenged persons: Provides accessibility tools, assistive technologies, training for teachers, braille books and kits, and motivational and educational sessions.

6. A library.

7. A healthcare centre.

8. Rural health camps on Saturdays at Vaharai and Chenkalady Divisional Secretariats.

9. Free distribution of notebooks to libraries and schools, and religious video shows at schools.

10. Welfare work by way of providing educational, medical, and pecuniary help to students.

11. Religious activities: Daily worship, weekly congregational prayers, and celebration of the birthdays of the Holy Trio.

B. Karaitivu campus (43 km south of Ramakrishnapuram):

1. Centre for Human Excellence offering courses in yoga, computer, and music learning.

2. Agricultural activities.

3. Cultural programmes.

C. Rugam Farm campus (36 km west of Ramakrishnapuram):

• Paddy cultivation.

D. Kiran campus (28 km north of Ramakrishnapuram):

1. A tailoring training unit.

2. Weekly medical camps.

3. A Sunday school.

E. Kotagala campus (230 km southwest of Ramakrishnapuram):

1. Coaching classes for students.

2. Centre for Human Excellence offering courses in yoga, tailoring, computer, and music learning.

3. A Sunday school.