Over a Thousand Donate Hair for Cancer Patients at Peradeniya on Binara Poya Day
Image Source : gossiplankanews.com
A large-scale act of compassion was carried out at the Peradeniya University Institute premises on the last Binara Full Moon Poya Day, where more than a thousand people participated in a programme dedicated to supporting patients who have lost their hair due to cancer and who are experiencing physical and mental hardship.
The distinctive community initiative combined hair donation with blood donation and organ-donor registration, transforming a personal milestone into an occasion of wider public service. It was organised by Dr Gihan Brahmanage, Managing Director of the Peradeniya University Institute, to mark his 100th blood donation.
The programme, as reported by Gossip Lanka News, demonstrated how a single act of generosity can encourage thousands of others to contribute in practical ways, while also reflecting the longstanding Sri Lankan tradition of associating religious observances with compassion, merit and social responsibility.
AI-generated illustration based on the reported hair-donation programme; no authentic source photograph was available.
A personal milestone becomes a community initiative
Dr Gihan Brahmanage’s 100th blood donation provided the central motivation for the programme. Rather than marking the occasion privately, the Managing Director of the Peradeniya University Institute used the milestone to create an opportunity through which members of the public could support patients and other people in need.
The decision was particularly significant because the event brought together several forms of giving. Participants were able to donate their hair, contribute blood and register their willingness to become organ donors, including eye donors. In this manner, the programme extended beyond a single charitable activity and created a broader platform for public participation.
The scale of the response was notable, with more than a thousand people arriving at the institute to take part. The turnout indicated that the appeal of the programme reached well beyond the immediate Peradeniya area, drawing people who wished to make a direct and meaningful contribution.
AI-generated illustration of the spirit of the Peradeniya hair-donation programme.
Hair donated to support patients affected by cancer
The hair-donation initiative was launched for the welfare of patients who have lost their hair due to cancer and are suffering mentally and physically as a result. The donated hair was intended to support efforts that assist such patients, for whom changes in appearance can form part of an already difficult period of illness and treatment.
The programme also illustrated the accessible nature of community support. While many forms of charity require financial resources, hair donation enables individuals to contribute something personal and practical, provided that their hair meets the requirements of the organisation receiving it.
Young girls, young people and elderly women were among those who came forward enthusiastically to donate their hair. Their participation gave the programme a distinctly intergenerational character, with people of different ages joining the same cause and demonstrating that social consciousness can be expressed in many forms.
The sight of long hair being carefully cut and prepared for donation also conveyed the personal nature of the contribution. Each donation represented a decision by an individual to part with something valuable in order to help another person, and the collective result became much greater than any single contribution.
Readers interested in donating hair for cancer patients can ask a local cancer charity or hospital about its wig-donation programmes and the required hair-length and preparation guidelines.
Participation from across Sri Lanka
Another notable feature of the event was the geographical breadth of its participation. People travelled from various parts of Sri Lanka to join the programme, including representatives from the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Such participation gave the initiative a national character, while also demonstrating the capacity of a well-organised community programme to bring together people from different regions and backgrounds. The involvement of participants from the Northern and Eastern provinces was specifically recognised as a special aspect of the event.
The programme therefore became more than an activity conducted within the grounds of an educational institution. It provided a shared setting in which people from different parts of the island could contribute to a common humanitarian purpose.
This kind of cooperation remains important in a country where community networks, religious observances, educational institutions and professional organisations often play an instrumental role in organising welfare activities. When these networks work together, practical support can be made available to a substantially larger number of people.
Blood donation adds a further dimension
A blood donation camp was also held at the Peradeniya University Institute on the same day. Thousands of people generously contributed to the associated activities, adding another important dimension to the programme.
Blood donation is a direct form of public service, and Dr Brahmanage’s 100th donation provided an example that encouraged others to participate. The event showed how a personal commitment, sustained over many years, can become a source of inspiration when it is shared publicly and connected with a wider community purpose.
The blood donation component also ensured that the day’s activities supported people beyond those who would benefit from the donated hair. Together, the hair-donation drive and blood donation camp created two distinct avenues through which members of the public could contribute according to their circumstances.
AI-generated illustration of the blood-donation component of the community programme.
Organ-donor registration available to the public
The public was additionally given a special opportunity to register for organ donation, including eye donation. Thousands of people contributed to this activity as well, further strengthening the humanitarian character of the day.
Organ-donor registration is a decision that requires consideration and personal commitment, and making information and registration facilities available at a community gathering can help members of the public understand how they may record their wishes.
The inclusion of eye donation within the registration opportunity was also significant, as it enabled participants to consider how a decision made during their lifetime might help others in the future. The event did not rely on a single form of generosity; instead, it created space for people to consider several ways of contributing to the welfare of others.
AI-generated illustration of public organ-donor registration at the reported event.
A positive example of Sri Lankan community spirit
The Peradeniya programme offers a positive example of how personal milestones can be transformed into occasions of collective service. Dr Gihan Brahmanage’s 100th blood donation was not treated merely as an individual achievement; it became the starting point for a wider initiative that encouraged people to donate hair, blood and their future organ-donation consent.
The participation of young girls, youth and elderly women, together with people who travelled from different parts of Sri Lanka, reflected a broad and inclusive spirit. The programme also demonstrated that charitable action does not always require elaborate structures. With suitable organisation, clear purpose and public encouragement, everyday people can contribute to causes that support patients and families facing difficult circumstances.
For Sri Lankans in Australia and around the world, the event serves as a reminder of the value of community-led service. Positive stories such as this, shared through platforms including eLanka, help recognise the individuals and organisations that continue to strengthen social responsibility through practical action.
The Peradeniya initiative will be remembered not only for the number of participants, but also for the range of contributions made during a single day. Hair was donated for patients affected by cancer, blood was donated through the camp, and thousands of people registered their interest in organ donation, including eye donation. Together, these actions formed a substantial expression of compassion and community spirit on Binara Poya Day.
Category: Article
Focus keyphrase: Peradeniya hair donation for cancer patients
Meta description: More than a thousand people donated hair, blood and organ-donor registrations at a compassionate community programme held at Peradeniya University Institute on Binara Poya Day.
Tags: Hair Donation, Cancer Support, Community Service, Sri Lanka
Source: https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2026/09/on-binara-poya-day-1000-people-came-to.html
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