Approximately 80% of diagnosed cancer patients require chemotherapy and this results in the devastating side effect of “loss of hair” leading to several issues -including social stigma. Realizing the severe psychological trauma women face, Kumarika, a leading hair care brand in Sri Lanka, has embarked on a first of its kind purpose driven campaign called “Sonduru Diriyawanthi” serving the need for natural hair wigs for women who are diagnosed with cancer. The campaign, launched on October 5, has been formulated with the belief that regardless of her appearance, every woman is beautiful, and plans to donate 6000 wigs annually to such diagnosed women. Kumarika is joined by Indira Cancer Trust, Lions Clubs of Aluthgama Bentota and Galkissa. The first ever donation of “Sonduru Diriyawanthi” care packs -50 in total- took place on November 1 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
Present at the donation ceremony were (from Left): W. A. D Surangi (wig recipient), Dr Sachini Rasnayaka (Consultant Oncologist & Senior Lecturer at the University Hospital of the Kothalawala Defence University), Dr Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake (Chairperson / Trustee Indira Cancer Trust), Major General Milinda Peiris (Vice Chancellor, University Hospital of the Kothalawala Defence Univerisity), P. M Chandima Dhananjani (Nurse), Dr. Jayantha Balawarda (Head of the Department of Oncology), Prof. Namal Wijesinghe (Dean of Faculty of Medicine), Dr Jayan Mendis (Director Medical Services), Brigadier Saman Thilakarathne, Dasun Yatawara (Brand Manager – Kumarika Hemas Consumer Brands), and Lion Felix Thomas (Secretary, Lions Club of Galkissa). The Project will donate batches of 50 wig care packs to the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama, and the General, National, Base and Teaching Hospitals in Kandy, Badulla, Karapitiya, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Thellippalai, Jaffna, Ratnapura, and Batticaloa.