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ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION LIMITED
146/34, yeõf,dla mdr, fld<U 5 146/34, `t;nyhf; tPjp, nfhOk;G 5 146/34, Havelock Rd, Colombo 5
Tel: 94 11 739 6700-4 Fax: 94 11 4528482 E mail: efl@sltnet.lk Website www.efl.lk

1st June 2010

Dr. Madhawa Jeewantha

Postgraduate Institute of Medicine,
Norris Canal Road
Colombo 07

Dear Sir,

National Forum on Snake Bite Awareness

Environmental Foundation Limited, a public interest non profit organisation together with the
American Red Cross, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Wildlife Conservation Society -
Galle initiated a campaign in September 2009 to create awareness on snakes in Sri Lanka
and to reduce the incidence of snake bites through educating vulnerable communities on
snake identification and basic first aid.

During the successfully completed initial stage of the project, information material was
disseminated at workshops held in key affected areas such as the Anuradhapura, Matale and
Polonnaruwa districts. The success of the workshops and repeated requests from target
groups highlighted the need to continue the project. Although snakebites are common and
frequent in many parts of the country, we believe it has not been given due recognition.

With the intention of bringing the snake bite issue to a national level, phase two of the
awareness project will run from May to June 2010 with the target group being expanded to an
island wide audience. Additional material has been developed and a second series of
workshops is being done covering 10 districts island wide.

EFL has chosen the week falling between the 14th and 20th of June 2010 to highlight the issue
of snake bites and draw more attention to the cause. The main event of the week would be
the national forum on snake bites with the participation of important stakeholders.

EFL together with its partners invite the MSc. Students of the Medical Toxicology Course to
attend the ‘National Forum on Snake Bite Awareness’. This forum is scheduled to be held
on Wednesday 16th June, 2010 from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at the Mihi Laka Medura Eco
Auditorium, BMICH, Colombo. We would appreciate your participation and be grateful if you
could allocate the morning for the event.

Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Ruzmyn Vilcassim on 0773 427271 or

eflruzmyn@sltnet.lk for further information.

The agenda is attached herewith for your information.

Thanking you

Yours sincerely

Sharmini Ratwatte
Chairperson
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Directors: Sharmini Ratwatte (Chairperson), Charuni Gunewardena, Prasanna Jayawardane,
Uditha Egalahewa, Dr Mario Gomez, Shinanthi Kelly, Ravi Fernando, Nalaka Rambukpotha