The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) made a powerful splash at this year’s SAISA Swimming 2025 Meet – not only through athletic excellence, but through an act of profound compassion and community service. Harnessing the energy of the three-day tournament, students from the Gecko Gear Service Group transformed their merchandise stall into a platform for purpose, raising an inspiring LKR 1.1 million in support of the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society (CFINS) – Sri Lanka’s oldest charitable organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with physical disabilities.
Founded in 1831 under the patronage of Governor Sir Edward Barnes, CFINS has been a cornerstone of compassion for nearly two centuries, providing free artificial limbs to those who have lost limbs due to landmines, accidents, or illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and vascular diseases. The organisation operates a 30-bed ward, offering free accommodation, meals, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and psychological support, while providing educational grants and entrepreneurial training that restore independence and dignity.
The SAISA Swimming 2025 Opening Ceremony was graced by 21-year-old Sri Lankan Paralympian Naveed Raheem, who represented Sri Lanka at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the 2025 Para Swimming World Championships in Singapore, and now serves as the Brand Ambassador for CFINS.
Naveed’s story left an indelible mark on all who attended. Swimming, he shared, was not originally his dream but his late younger brother’s – a passion he chose to honour after his brother’s passing. Encouraged by his coaches at age 11 to take up para-sports, Naveed overcame countless social and financial challenges to become one of Sri Lanka’s most inspiring athletes.
“As a para-athlete in Sri Lanka, there’s still a stigma and poor perception compared to the rest of the world – and we want to change that. It’s a great pleasure to partner with OSC. There aren’t many competitions or proper facilities for para-athletes here, and we need more organisations to take action,” he said.
He also credited his success to the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), noting:
“Joining the National Paralympic Committee changed everything for me. Without them, I would never have had the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the Paralympic Games. They bring differently abled people together and help us prove that ability comes in many forms.”
Sue Turner, who has served at OSC for 14 years and founded the Gecko Gear Service Group, reflected on the origin of this meaningful partnership:
“Since Grade 12 student Aran introduced CFINS to us, the Gecko Gear service group visited their facilities and was deeply inspired by the amazing work they do. We were privileged to have Naveed speak to us at the SAISA Opening Ceremony and hope to build on this and develop a strong, long-term partnership in the future.”
Dr. David Poulus, OSC’s Service Coordinator, echoed this sentiment:
“We are privileged that our dear student Aran made the introduction and encouraged us to visit CFINS. His passionate persistence inspired this collaboration, and we are thrilled to donate all proceeds from the SAISA tournament to CFINS. We sincerely hope this marks the beginning of a lasting partnership between OSC and CFINS.”
Mr. Supem D. S. de Silva, Immediate Past President of CFINS, underscored the organisation’s mission:
“CFINS provides prosthetic limbs free of charge. We have a 30-bed ward, and everything – from accommodation to meals and rehabilitation – is provided entirely free. It all depends on donations. Partnering with OSC is integral because it allows the youth to be involved and helps break the stigmas surrounding prosthetic users, whether in employment or society.”
Jadyn de Silva, representing the CFINS Youth Council, emphasised the sentiment:
“The Youth Council was created to encourage young people to build an inclusive society and break the stigma around disability. Through our partnership with OSC, we can bring more youth into the Council. We manage CFINS’s social media presence, run youth volunteer projects, mobile health camps, and the AIDEX Sports Festival, and are exploring overseas volunteer collaborations to unite youth globally for accessibility and inclusion.”
Among the passionate students behind this initiative were Tarun Malalasekera and Aran Eassuwaren, both of whom played pivotal roles in making this collaboration a reality.
Tarun, a Grade 9 student who has been at OSC for seven years and serves as a Gecko Gear Service Leader, expressed his pride in the initiative:
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to partner with CFINS. It’s inspiring to see OSC addressing such an important issue, encouraging students to be more aware. With SAISA bringing together athletes from ten schools, hearing Naveed’s story makes it so much more motivating – it reminds us to be aware of others who face challenges and still make it to the top.”
Aran, 17, who first connected OSC with CFINS, recalled how a personal introduction turned into a movement:
“About a year ago, my father, who is close friends with Mr. Supem, encouraged me to visit CFINS. That visit completely changed my perspective – it opened my eyes and heart. I realised this was Sri Lanka’s oldest charity, yet they were struggling for funds and awareness. I spent four to five months pushing my supervisors to visit, and everything aligned perfectly with SAISA. It’s amazing that OSC could use this platform to raise awareness for such a vital cause. This partnership is just the beginning – there’s so much more OSC and CFINS can do together.”
Through Gecko Gear’s initiative, every item sold contributed to funding 22 prosthetic limbs, directly transforming lives and strengthening OSC’s legacy of Compassion, Courage, and Curiosity.
Naveed concluded with a heartfelt reminder:
“Using a prosthetic limb is nothing to be ashamed of. No child should ever be mocked for being different, and parents must lead the way in nurturing acceptance and understanding. Being differently abled does not mean being unable – it means having the strength to do extraordinary things that even ‘normal people’ often cannot.”
By connecting sport, service, and compassion, OSC once again demonstrates that when youth lead with empathy; every stroke, every sale, and every act of kindness can ripple far beyond the pool – changing lives, breaking barriers, and inspiring hope.
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