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Gangaramaya leads the way in helping Ruwan and Sevwandi
By Dhananjani Silva
Twenty-nine-year-old Ruwan Damith Subasinghe was overjoyed when he received the news of his wife’s pregnancy last year. Then came the rather amazing medical reports which revealed that his wife Sevwandi was carrying quadruplets.

Like all other young couples, Ruwan and Sevwandi hailing from Anuradhapura rejoiced as well as worried over the situation they were confronted with -- delighted because they would soon be the proud parents of not just one but four lovely babies, but anxious too as they wondered how they would care and provide for them all.

The young mother Sevwandi who was working at the Technical College in Anuradhapura was able to maintain their home with the small salary she earned while her husband, Ruwan did his bit by working as a temporary driver.
It was an auspicious start to the new year as the quadruplets, one girl and three boys were born on January 2 at the Castle Street Hospital in Colombo. They were named Senuni, Akindu, Diman and Chamitha.

Shortly after their birth, the parents had no doubt indeed that their foursome were indeed lucky babies as officials of the Gangarama Temple stepped forward to help them. They received a donation of Rs. 200,000 from the Gangarama Temple dayaka sabhawa. Speaking to The Sunday Times Assaji Thera of the Gangarama Temple said a similar donation of Rs. 2 lakhs had been made to the quintuplets born about a year ago. The quintuplets, according to the doctors at the hospital, are healthy as they received medicine and nourishing food.

“ The contribution was made by the kind donors of the Gangaramaya Temple dayaka sabhawa, the students of the Jinarathana Technical College and from the funds collected by the Navam Maha Perahera,” the Thera said.

“The money has been forwarded to a fixed deposit account at the People’s Bank and arrangements have been made for the parents to make use of the interest for the welfare of the babies. They cannot withdraw the money put in the fixed deposit without the permission of the temple authorities,” the Thera said adding that donors can make further contributions to the quadruplets through the Gangarama temple. The young father Ruwan acknowledged the many acts of kindness by donors including the Gangaramaya Temple.

Ruwan, however, is determined to earn a steady income to support his family. “If I have an old vehicle, I could earn some money out of that,” he says wistfully, looking forward to the day they can take their babies home.

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