Known for their breathtaking travel stories and sweeping visuals from across Sri Lanka, digital creators Shenelle Rodrigo and Shehaan Thahir recently visited Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first Paediatric Palliative Care Centre.
Their storytelling, this time, was not driven by spectacle but by empathy.
The focus shifted from landscapes to lives—young patients battling cancer, families holding on to hope, and a dedicated team offering dignity in the face of adversity.
Suwa Arana – A Place for Healing, is located within walking distance of Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama—the nation’s only paediatric oncology unit.
It offers a holistic support system for children and their families who often travel from distant corners of the country seeking treatment. With 32 en suite rooms, the centre provides temporary housing during treatment cycles, easing the emotional and financial burdens these families endure.
At the heart of Suwa Arana are its Rainbow Rooms, where children receiving end-of-life care are surrounded by family in a peaceful, compassionate setting.
The facility extends beyond medical care to encompass psychological, emotional, and spiritual support—including counselling, mindfulness, and bereavement services.
As public figures with significant reach, their visit is likely to draw much-needed attention to the critical work being done by Suwa Arana and the Indira Cancer Trust—reminding a nation that some of its most powerful stories happen not in the spotlight, but in the quiet corners of compassion.
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