SOS Balloon Carnival 2016: The first ever in Sri Lanka

by Husna Inayathullah

The first ever balloon carnival in Sri Lanka organised by the SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka was held recently at the Galle Face Green, Colombo. The SOS commemorated this event in parallel to the celebration of its 35th anniversary.

The carnival took place with a motive of increasing awareness among the public on the work SOS does for children without parental care and to increase public support to help a child.

The carnival started with the arrival of SOS Ambassadors, former cricketer Roshan Mahanama and Actress Pooja Umashankar with world famous Sri Lankan cricketers of the past such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana and Farveez Maharoof.

Senior management team of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka headed by Ananda Karunarathne received the guests, under the balloon arch which was decorated in blue and white. The lamp was lit by the guests, a longstanding staff member, a SOS mother and a child. The public were invited to take photographs with the celebrities as a fund raising event.

Many stalls showed off the talents of the children and project members, such as the Mothers Club. Children from the SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala and youths participated and enjoyed themselves with all the other children who were present at the event. Colourful balloons, music and dancing, and many game stalls added more colour to the carnival.