Greetings dear friends in Rotary,

As we approach the end of our eighth month in sharing, it is pleasing to note of the commitment of our Rotary Clubs towards the work of Rotary and doing their best with the challenges of everyday life with reference to professions, businesses and family. We must remain focused, unwavering in service to the many who depend on Rotary and also look for every opportunity in bringing in new members, thus continuing to share Rotary.

We now seem re energized after a truly remarkable event, the Sharing Conference, our 17th Rotary District Conference, which was successfully concluded during the weekend 26" & 27th of January 2008. While this Issue provides an overview and pictures, it would be correct to say that the Conference will be remembered as one of the best, based on the feedback received by all those who attended from Rotary and non Rotarians as well.

DGN Imthiaz Ismail and all those on the Conference Committee must be congratulated for a job well done.

Mid February also saw the wonderful felicitation events for RI Director Nominee K R Ravindran, which were organized by the District with the support of the Rotary Club of Colombo, it was truly fitting to a person who is exemplary of Rotary Shares and Rotary Sri Lanka is proud of his achievements and wish him the very best in his efforts as RI Director for 2009-2011.

Two more Schools were opened under the "Schools Re Awakening Program" in Trincomalee and Batticaloa in February bringing the total to 14 Schools, an amazing feat in just 36 months. We were pleased to have RI Director Paul and Diane Netzel and TRF Trustee Carolyn Jones officiate at the ceremonies. The Committee is doing its best to complete all assigned schools by May 2008.

This month, February is designated by Rotary, as World Understanding Month, with the 23rd of February being the birthday of Rotary.

Through the programs of Rotary, Rotarians all around the world continue to create better understanding, goodwill and peace.... And I wish to quote our Founder on his thoughts, as published in a R.I booklet of Rotary Information, titled 'Adventure in Service' from 1949 up to 1970; "Challenge to the future - Rotary's program of promoting better understanding between different racial groups and between devotees to different religious faiths, so simply and auspiciously begun in the year 1905, has met with greater success thus far than the negotiations of diplomats.

It has been the way of Rotary, to focus thought upon matters in which they are in agreement, rather than on matters in which they are in disagreement. Rotary has satisfactorily demonstrated the fact that friendship can easily hurdle national and religious boundary lines."

Rotary Shares.
All the best ! Thariq Thulba