{"id":125139,"date":"2023-11-21T17:31:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=125139"},"modified":"2023-11-21T17:31:23","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:31:23","slug":"vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"VACD Australia August\/September 2023 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">VACD Australia August\/September 2023 Newsletter<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>VACD Sri Lanka Tour Highlights &amp; Notes in Brief:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">After months of careful planning, Yasmin and I embarked on our self-funded official VACD tour of Sri Lanka in late September of which here are some of the key highlights:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Mr. Himendra Ranaweera \u2013 Deputy Chairman, Ms Jayanga Wegodapola \u2013 Legal Officer and Mr. Subramanian Kamalanathan \u2013 Manager Operations \u2013 Merrill J Fernando Charitable Foundation (MJFCF) to discuss VACD\u2019s upcoming projects &amp; programs and establish a Collaborative Partnership agreement between MJFCF and VACD, as per below:<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Mr. Henry Fitch \u2013 CEO, Ms Anoushka Boralessa- Head of Business Development &amp; Sustainability and their Teardrop Island team. Teardrop are sponsors of\u00a0 VACD\u2019s \u201cTeardrop CARE Centre for Children with Disabilities\u201d located in Ambagasdowa. We discussed VACD\u2019s ongoing and future projects and programs and Teardrop\u2019s support and participation in these initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Ms Sharnileka Samarakoon \u2013 Centre Manager and Mr. Rajkaran Mahendran \u2013 Physiotherapist at MJFCF National Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy &amp; Other Developmental Disorders to update them of our new projects &amp; programs and work out details relating to organizing quarterly Health and Rehabilitation camps in Uva and providing hands-on training for our special educators at their centres.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Ms. Dilmini Madawela \u2013 Deputy General Manager Pharmaceutical Sector at Cargills (Ceylon) limited, to discuss VACD projects &amp; programs and arrange for medication prescribed by Paediatricians to be made available through their island-wide pharmaceutical outlets at cost price to VACD which we will distribute free to our VACD children. Ms. Madawela also agreed to coordinate vocational training and eventual employment at their various Cargills outlets for our Young VACD Club members .<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Mr. Hiran Cooray \u2013 Chairman Jetwings Hotel Group to appraise him of our VACD mission and upcoming projects, and programs. Mr. Cooray very kindly and generously agreed to donate a prize for the raffle draw at VACD\u2019s Melbourne Chapter inauguration function .<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Ms Sophie Gordon \u2013 Second Secretary Development at the Australian High Commission in Colombo to update the Australian mission in Sri Lanka of our own mission and ongoing, upcoming, and new programs and initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Conference call with Dr. Gopi Kitnasamy \u2013 Head of Rehabilitation services at MJFCF\u00a0 who is presently located in London, to brief him on the outcome of our meetings with his MJFCF colleagues to discuss how best to implement upcoming projects, programs, training for our caregivers, health, and rehabilitation camps etc. under our collaborative partnership agreement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Series of meetings (over many days) with our VACD Sri Lanka Board members on current and future projects and programs and the need for them to ensure that VACD Sri Lanka adheres to the strict compliance, governance, transparency, and reporting guidelines and requirements under which they and VACD Australia operate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meetings and discussions with local Consultant Pedestrians and local doctors to seek their guidance on what must be done to assist our disabled children to cope with many challenges they face and for them to resume visiting our centres on a regular basis to examine our children. This initiative has since commenced.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/9s6-U7OHPyLpd7ZgdcWGi4hxGsxiuQqvxvV6Zs5xn5d9dnTmCIg666KgsMTZR7zjdbePiNXVL8-fyDV_QcuX_OVCcW803AnM-ULktzv64sgZFkIWnqnOKcb_FO-ARtTuWAkKeAdVFJOg5XUkjaD0DA\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-3.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-2.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-4.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Dr. Kamalaseeli Mallawaarchchige \u2013 Consultant Pediatrician at Base Hospital Diyatalawa and her colleagues paid our VACD Bandarawela centre a visit, examined all our VACD Bandarawela centre children, updated their health records, shared this information with our staff and gave parents advice and guidance on how to care for their children.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Mrs Damayanthi Paranagama \u2013 Chief Secretary Uva Provincial Council to<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">apprise her of VACD\u2019s history, vision and mission and our ongoing and new projects, programs, and initiatives. Mrs. Paranagama has promised to arrange free transport to and from our centres for our VACD children and one accompanying carer.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting and updating the Chief Secretary \u2013 Ministry of Health Uva, Director of Health Services Uva, Assistant Secretary Health Services Uva, Heads of Childcare, Social Services, Probation etc. of our ongoing and upcoming initiatives.\u00a0<strong>These officials stress that children with disabilities are in critical need of assistance and urge us to concentrate and devote our resources and efforts towards this area since this sector has been overlooked and neglected for a very long time.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Visiting our VACD centres in Bandarawela, Badulla and Ambagasdowa, having close and personal discussions with our local leadership team, staff, care givers, parents, children, and their family members and intermingling with them helped us to acquire a better understanding of their pressing needs and priorities. We need to urgently find practical and meaningful policies to alleviate their persistent hardships and offer them an opportunity to have a better and brighter future by judiciously and efficiently allocating resources that are available to us.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>We discovered that the level of impoverishment in the rural sector in Sri Lanka has risen sharply over the past 2-3 years making it almost impossible for families with disabled children living in these areas to provide basic amenities to their children let alone provide special care and medication that these children need in order to cope with their challenges. There is a strong bidirectional link between poverty and the inability for parents to support and care for their disabled children.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>The number of children registered with us has risen alarmingly since we established our new centre in\u00a0 Ambagasdowa. According to available official data, this region has a significant number of children suffering from congenital disabilities and developmental disorders relative to other parts of the country.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>The number of families receiving family assistance from VACD has increased sharply since the establishment of this new centre. The cost of supporting this initiative is A$ 25 or equivalent per month that is tax deductible to Australian based taxpayers. (Please see below how you can support our mission)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Launch of our VACD Melbourne Chapter &amp; Lunch<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The VACD Melbourne chapter was launched on Sunday, 8th October in Melbourne where VACD directors, local friends, family, supporters, and well-wishers were present to celebrate and enjoy this occasion over lunch, salsa dancing and a lot of fun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">More news about this event will be published in a special edition of this newsletter soon along with details of those who made special donations, offered their pro bono services, and supported our mission.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Support for VACD from the Lions Club of Uva Wellassa\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Thanks to our Deputy Chairman VACD Sri Lanka and director in charge of our Badulla centre,\u00a0 Deshamanya N G R D Kumarawansa, Lion Palitha Wijekoon and Mrs Manel Wijesundara from the Lions Club of Uva Wellassa donated three wheelchairs to our Badulla centre while Lion,\u00a0 Project coordinator and Proprietor of Central Optic Care, arranged an eye clinic that was organised for our VACD children, who after their ophthalmic examinations were given their\u00a0 prescription spectacles free by Lions club and Central Optic Care.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-5.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-6-1024x576.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-7-1024x576.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-8-1024x576.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Support for VACD from the Red Cross Society \u2013 Badulla<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">A group of members from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society of Badulla, donated their time, labor, and skills and organized a working bee at the VACD Bandarawela centre.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">These volunteers did a remarkable amount of work around the VACD Bandarawela centre by weeding and cleaning overgrown surroundings. Thank you, Red Cross Society of Badulla. Your services and support for our mission are deeply appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-9.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-10.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-11-1024x768.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2023\/10\/22\/vacd-australia-august-september-2023-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-12-1024x768.png\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>VACD\u2019s Team, Projects, Programs &amp; Newsletters:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Please visit our\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/\">VACD Webpages<\/a>\u00a0to find details of our team, projects, programs, and newsletters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Multiple donation options to support our mission:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The following hyperlink will enable you to find all donation options that are available to you on our webpage:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/donate\/\">https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/donate\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Donations to VACD Australia by Australian Taxpayers are tax deductible.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Multicurrency Benevity Causes Portal for International Donations:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">International donors who wish to support our mission can do so through the Benevity Causes portal via the hyperlink below for all your multi-currency donation options:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/mygoodness.benevity.org\/community\/search?query=vacd&amp;country=036\">https:\/\/mygoodness.benevity.org\/community\/search?query=vacd&amp;country=036<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>A big \u201cThank You\u201d to all of you\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Our journey is bound to be long and challenging. The official and unofficial number of children and families who need our support are sizeable. We look forward to your continued generosity, active support for our undertaking and you being partners with us in this most fulfilling and worthwhile 12+ years journey that we traverse together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Please visit us at:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/\">https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/<\/a>\u00a0 and reach out to us at:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"mailto:fstephen@bigpond.net.au\">fstephen@bigpond.net.au<\/a>\u00a0should you choose to support our mission. Please share this newsletter with your network! Together, we certainly can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, one by one!!!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Many thanks, best wishes, and warmest regards\u2026. Felix<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Felix Stephen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Chairman of the Board of Directors \u2013 VACD Ltd. Sydney \u2013 Australia \u2013\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/\">https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Member of the Advisory Board \u2013 VACD Sri Lanka<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Member of the Advisory Board \u2013 Two Leaves Foundation Sri Lanka<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Senior Associate \u2013 Cognoscenti Group \u2013 Sydney \u2013 Australia-\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cognoscenti.global\/\">http:\/\/www.cognoscenti.global\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Member of Investment Committee \u2013 Arrive Wealth Management \u2013 Brisbane \u2013 Australia \u2013\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au\/\">https:\/\/www.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VACD Australia August\/September 2023 Newsletter Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners, Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD. VACD Sri Lanka Tour Highlights &amp; Notes in Brief:\u00a0 After months of careful planning, Yasmin and I embarked on our self-funded official VACD tour of Sri Lanka in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":125140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[57738,57741,57740,57739],"class_list":{"0":"post-125139","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-dr-gopi-kitnasamy","9":"tag-dr-kamalaseeli-mallawaarchchige","10":"tag-manel-wijesundara","11":"tag-vacd-bandarawela-centre","12":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>VACD Australia August\/September 2023 Newsletter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dear 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