Sri Lanka’s Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Kader Masthan, Qatar’s Ambassador to Colombo, Rashid bin Shafi Al Marri, and other officials during the inauguration.
Doha: Qatar Charity opened its office in Sri Lanka within the framework of its policy to directly oversee the implementation of its construction, development and relief projects as well as to intensify its efforts to benefit the people of Asia.
With the opening of the Qatar Charity Office in Sri Lanka, the number has risen to 28 offices across Europe, Asia and Africa, including 4 regional offices in Turkey, Ghana, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan.
The new office was inaugurated in a ceremony held in Colombo, which was attended by several prominent Sri Lankan figures, Arab diplomats and representatives of national and international organizations, said a release.
Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Kader Masthan, Rashid bin Shafi Al Marri, Qatar’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, in addition to Qatari, Palestinian, Iraqi and Omani diplomats, parliamentarians and heads of local and international charities.
The event started with the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Qatar, and then a video clip about Qatar Charity’s humanitarian activities in the world and in Sri Lanka since 1993, was played.
Speaking at the event, Faisal Rashid Al Fehaida introduced Qatar Charity and its humanitarian mission, which is supporting the vulnerable communities and empowering them to achieve sustainable development goals throughout the world.
He also pointed out that Qatar Charity’s humanitarian intervention in Sri Lanka started in 1993, when it used to work in coordination with local charities, and implemented its projects and programs at a cost of more than QR 14 million.
He also said that Qatar Charity sponsors more than 1,000 persons, most of whom are orphans and a number of different development projects are being implemented in the country at an estimated cost of about QR13m, adding that it has completed the final arrangements for the opening of the five multi-service centers at a cost of more than QR 5 million.
On this occasion, Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction expressed his pleasure and praised the Qatar Charity’s humanitarian interventions around the world, pointing out that it is a global organization well-known for quality planning and implementing humanitarian and charitable projects.
He also that his ministry is ready to cooperate with the Qatar Charity Office in Colombo in planning, marketing and implementing housing and construction projects for the needy and poor people in Sri Lanka. He also announced the establishment of a special division within his ministry to coordinate with Qatar Charity in this regard.
