Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo, Srilanka

Though the Mission started functioning in the island in 1924 by way of managing a few schools, the centre in Colombo was formally established in 1930.  Swami Sarvarupananda is the swami-in-charge of the centre.

Activities:

1. A free library and a reading room (with 8000 books and 23 newspapers and periodicals), a book showroom.
2. A Sunday school for children (381 on the roll) and music classes.
3. An International Cultural Centre with guestrooms, library, etc.
4. Relief and welfare work such as providing food and educational, medical and pecuniary help to the needy (1,07,39,000 Sri Lankan Rupees spent).
5. Monthly medical camps (845 patients treated) and weekly ayurvedic camps (3145 patients treated).
6. Lectures and cultural programmes in the ashrama’s Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Hall (one of the biggest auditoriums in Colombo) as well as in other parts of the island.
7. Free distribution of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature to schools and libraries.
8. Daily worship, weekly classes, fortnightly retreats, occasional festivals, and celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other prophets.

Activities of the sub-centre at Batticaloa:

1. Three orphanages with 109 children.
2. Two nursery schools with 166 children.
3. Two Sunday schools with 365 children.
4. A computer training centre with 75 students.
5. A free coaching centre with 112 students.
6. A healthcare centre, which treated 4998 patients.
7. Monthly medical camps treated 7795 patients.
8. Free distribution of books to libraries and schools, agricultural activities, religious video shows at schools and a book shop.
9. Daily worship, weekly congregational prayers and celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.
10. Occasional classes at Manthivu Lepers’ Asylum and Thalankundah, where the centre maintains temples with regular puja and bhajans.
11. Welfare work by providing educational aids and pecuniary and medical help to poor students (Sri Lankan Rupees 78,13,000 spent this year).