About Our Mission
Learn about our journey to save children with congenital heart disease in Sri Lanka
Our Story
Save a Kid's Life (SAKL) was established in 2018 as an initiative of the Rotary Club of Colombo West. Our mission began when we identified a critical gap in healthcare for children from indigent families in Sri Lanka who were born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
With the high cost of cardiac surgeries and limited specialized facilities in Sri Lanka, many children from underprivileged backgrounds were unable to receive the life-saving treatment they desperately needed.
Through a partnership with Amrita Hospital, Kochi, India, we created a pathway for these children to receive world-class cardiac care completely free of charge.
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Our Impact
140+
Children saved through life-saving heart surgeries
7+
Years of continuous service since 2018
20+
Dedicated volunteers and medical professionals
Our Team
Rtn S Karunakaran
Past District Governor & SAKL Project Chairman
Leading the Save a Kid's Life initiative with extensive experience in Rotary leadership and community service.
Rtn KP Nagaraja
President of Rotary Club of Colombo West (2025-26)
Current president overseeing the strategic direction and operations of the club's humanitarian initiatives.
Rtn Yukthi K. Gunasekera
SAKL Team Lead
Coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Save a Kid's Life program and manages fundraising and communication
Our Process
Identification & Referral
Children with CHD are identified through our network of local hospitals and healthcare providers. Families can also directly refer children through our contact channels.
Medical Evaluation
Our medical team evaluates each case based on the severity of the condition, urgency of treatment, and the family's financial situation. Priority is given to the most critical cases.
Treatment Coordination
We arrange all aspects of treatment, including travel to India, accommodation, surgery at Amrita Hospital, and post-operative care. A parent or guardian accompanies each child throughout the process.
Follow-up Care
After returning to Sri Lanka, we ensure each child receives proper follow-up care and monitoring. We maintain contact with families to track long-term outcomes and provide additional support as needed.