Bestowed with The Most Excellent - Order

by Lakmal Welabada

Feeling for others and going out of the way to help a needy soul is a human quality which rarely a person would have. And the tireless journeys of such devoted people who assist the under privilege throughout their lives should be rewarded.

That's why one of the supreme nations of the world who has been maintaining their power and dignity for

 thousands of years - the United Kingdom has been awarding the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for such silent heroes and heroines.

To be honoured by a MBE is a rare occurrence. Among the prestigious MBE Award winners, occasionally a Sri Lankan would also be seen. But it's an extremely a rare opportunity. Charmaine Jayetilleke may be among such few Sri Lankans honoured with the MBE award lauding the Pearl of the Indian Ocean - Sri Lanka.

Charmaine received the MBE at a special ceremony conducted on the official birthday of the Queen Elizabeth the Second at Buckingham Palace on November 23, 2006.

And that was the beginning. Following that, this dynamic woman was awarded with two more awards in UK itself. At the prestigious Hilton, Park Lane where over 600 guests attended, the glittering evening of Asian Woman of Achievement Awards 2007 ceremony Charmaine Jayetilleke MBE received the award of 'Social and Humanitarian Work'... She won it from over 2000 nominations from the entire continent of Asia.

She was the only Sri Lankan. Wife of British Prime Minister, Mrs. Cherrie Booth Blair QC, Elizabeth Hurley and her husband Arun Nayar and Miss Great Britain 2006 were among the host of celebrities.

And at the Commonwealth Club, over 200 invitees applauded Charmaine Jayetilleke MBE receiving the 'Remember Africa Award' for her tireless contribution towards pushing the Africa towards a better tomorrow by eradicating poverty. Kofi Annan, Oprah Winfrey and Dora Akunyili were among the others who received this award.

The award winning expatriate's dedicated social service is not restricted to the overseas, but also to her motherland. When Tsunami came she was in the island, and got off on to the road almost begging the well wishers 'life' for the survivors until her UK contacts stretched a lengthy helping hand along with everything.

Charmaine is the founder and present president of the Sri Lanka Christian Association (SLCA), and has been dedicated uniting people of the world to champion the needs of children.

"For a child's hunger for love is much more that a child's hunger for food. Every child is precious and holds the promise of an enormous potential," she expects. Her logo is 'Help us to help a child' as every child has the right for education and being loved.

Raising fund through many entertaining and recreational events like fashion shows, dinner dances, beauty contests, annual occasions and talent shows.

Charmaine works as an Event Organiser for various companies in UK. "And that is my profession. I rarely have leisure time as my involvements with charity is immense. It keeps me going. I use my God gifted skills for them," she smiles.

'Helping the homeless in UK' is the biggest project Charmaine is involved in. She is the School Governor (honorary post) of Minet Junior School in Hillingdon whose job is to see to the running of the place.

"I started off at the Sri Lanka Broad Casting Corporation (SLBC), and gradually became the chief librarian and programme scheduling officer there. I joined the SLBC just after the school, and got the opportunity to associate all the educated people. The SLBC was like an university for me," she reveals.

The golden era of her life began along with she being selected by the Sri Lanka Tea Board to go to Tokyo for their first campaign to promote Sri Lankan tea. "I worked in five islands in Japan for the Sri Lankan Tea Board for 4 years. Our target was to introduce pure Ceylon black tea to the Japanese community as they used to drink blended tea and green tea," she recalls.

"It was most exciting 4 years of my life. Japanese were wonderful. I was constantly on the TV, radio and the newspapers, and felt like a celebrity. When I was to attend a function they used to advertise it saying that a Sri

 Lankan lady would participate it, so hundreds of people would gather there with flowers to greet me," she claims.

"From Japan I flew to London, have been living in UK for the past 32 years. But I have never forgotten my mother Lanka and my nation. I'm a very religious person, and believe should not waste a minute which the God has entrusted upon us and use it to help others. So whether I'm here or there I 'help' people - especially the destitute and poor," she claims.

Some of the special projects Charmaine is involved through the SLCA in Sri Lanka include - educating orphans, supporting orphanages, financing leprosy patients, building first ever Braille library in Sri Lanka and is raising funds to build a Talking Library.

Other worthy causes of her include funding the visually handicapped, the deaf and the blind and financing two homes for children with learning difficulties, giving financial help to aged people and disabled people.

"All these institutions provide for people of all faiths, creeds, nationalities, cultures and ages," she claims.Charmaine is the affiliate's co-ordinator for the Commonwealth Countries League which is affiliated to over 55 countries and many women's organisations.

She also serves as an advisor on the Prince's Trust Faith Forum Committee and serves as an advisor to the 'Faith Regent Foundation'. Charmaine is also a member of the English Speaking Union and was the only woman serving on the interim committee in the UK for Sri Lanka Cricket.

"Many more things to do - for the people," she promises.