“Having been in Inner Wheel for over 50 years, it has given me the strength and inspiration, and a meaning of togetherness and fulfilment. Our meetings bring joy and laughter and make us one family of sisters. It takes 100 men to make an encampment – it takes one woman to make a home,” said Weerasekere speaking on the occasion.
Born to a family of great social workers and philanthropists, Mala has inherited all these qualities. Great granddaughter of Mudaliyar Don Carolis Hewavitarne and grand niece of Anagarika Dharmapala (Don David Hewavitarne), Mala went on to become an astute businesswoman, as well as a benevolent philanthropist whose generosity has benefitted thousands.
Mala learnt the fine art of Business Management under her father while working at the family firm, Don Carolis. As a result of Mala’s appealing to then President J. R. Jayewardena, the Parliamentary Complex Order scheduled to be given to Singapore, was instead given to Sri Lankan carpenters, thus benefitting both, the Lankans and the country.
More important was what she learnt about the lives of the workforce and her efforts to improve their lot. Together with her husband, they converted Sinha Weerasekere’s ancestral home into a safe and secure home for the abandoned girl child, naming it the Peter Weerasekere Home (named after Sinha’s father). Today, it houses 85 children whose ages range from two weeks to 18 years. Mala herself personally supervises all aspects of the Home, which include, the food prepared, its nutritional aspect, education, vocational training, physical and mental well being and ensuring that they are prepared for the outside world when they leave the Home at the age of 18. Even thereafter, foster mother Mala, keeps in touch with the girls to ensure their well being.
Mala is undoubtedly a role model. For those aspiring for a business career, as an entrepreneur, a home maker, a social worker, Mala is that rare person who has embraced all of these accomplishments within herself and carried out all these roles to perfection.
Among Mala’s many achievements is the setting up of a Dialysis Unit for Kurunegala’s Civil Hospital along with a 30-bed ward. “Our largest project being Cancer, we set up two mammograms as well as a scanner.”
Blessed with four children and eight grandchildren as well three great grand children, Mala is a great believer in the power of women. “I believe, women can make it happen. We can recognize, prepare, activate and together navigate. Nothing is impossible. Sukarno said, a thousand men can help win a war. I say, give us 10 capable women and we lead the world,” she concluded.