About us
Kandy
Friend-in-Need Society (KFINS) is one of the oldest Social Service
Organizations in Sri Lanka. KFINS was officially established on 4th
November 1837 under the patronage of the then British Governor of Ceylon. The
Government Agent of Kandy was appointed as its ex officio President and the
District Judge of Kandy as the Vice President. The main objective of the KFINS
was to work out ways and means to render assistance to displaced estate workers
who were congregating around the roads and by-ways of Kandy town. At its
inception KFINS was funded mainly with contributions from the plantation
community and the government civil officials
In
1891, it was registered as a welfare organization under Ordinance No 16. A
Philanthropist, Mr. W.H.Patedonated his tea factory and land called Randall Hills
at Mulgampola,where the present headquarters buildings and the Home for Elders
were opened officially on 12th July, 1938 by the then Governor of
Ceylon. The character of the KFINS and the elders who sought support and assistance
from it, changed from the focus onproviding a monthly dole to displaced plantation
workers to providing residential accommodation to local elders and destitutes who needed same.
Management
of the KFINS changed in 1953 with the handing over of this responsibility to an
elected body from the members. In 1963, KFINS was declared an approved charity
under the Inland Revenue Act No. 4. In 1984, KFINS was incorporated under Act
No. 2 by the Parliament. More recently, it was registered under Act No. 9 of 2000.
(Reg. No. NES/003/2013/CP).
‘The
total number of Life Members has risen to 562 to date. The supreme body of the
Society is the Board of Trustees comprising of,Dr.H.B.Jayasinghe, Hon
President.(Consultant Clinical Hypnotist, Family Physician)Mr.Palitha Elkaduwa,
Hon.Vice President. (Retired Administrator and a former Ministry
Secretary.)Mr.Harindra Dunuwila, Hon.Vice President. (Attorney at Law, former
Mayor of Kandy, former State Minister.)Dr.Ravi Weerakoon, Hon.Vice President. (Consultant
Anesthesiologist.)Dr.Sarath Arambewela, Hon, Vice President, (Consultant
Vetenary Surgeon, retired Administrator.)Mr.K.A.T.Nikapitiya, Hon.Treasurer.
(Chartered Civil Engineer, retired Administrator.)
At
present KFINS operates,Two elders’ homes providing free residential
accommodation for 125 senior citizens.Two retirement homes for 25 senior
citizens at a monthly nominal fee for the services provided.A meditation centre
for our senior citizens as well as those in the neighborhood.The latest
development project by the KFINS is the proposed Retirement Home for the middle
class citizens and an Elders’ Home for the poor community, to be established at
Danture.’