ZAINAB IFTHIKAR
CALIFORNIA : The 13th November marked a monumental day for Sri Lankans across the globe. It is with great happiness that I write this article covering the prestigious Sri Lanka Foundation International, USA Awards Ceremony 2022. SLF Int was founded in 2003 by Dr. Walter Jayasinghe a renowned philanthropist and physician in the United States.
The event was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles in California and gathered over 400 guests from the United States and abroad.
The awards were given to Sri Lankans from across the world who had achieved something remarkable in different spheres of life and contributed to their society in a multitude of ways.
Amongst the awardees was Dr. Zainab Ifthikar, a Sri Lankan born and raised in Saudi Arabia. She was awarded the Rising Star award for her ongoing efforts through her NGO, the MEI Foundation, and her two published books: “Poverty Is Not Passivity” and “Panacea Is Possible.” She was also recognized through this award for her leadership roles, extracurricular involvement, and academic achievements.
Dr. Zainab mentioned in her speech that her achievements in life would not have been possible if it weren’t for the support of her parents, family and friends, and Alfaisal University, where she attended medical school. She wishes to continue giving back to Sri Lanka in the capacities that she can and encourages people to do the same, saying “giving to the less fortunates does not have to be just in terms of wealth, but can also be by giving in terms of compassion and hope; giving in terms of your time and good will.”
Currently, the MEI Foundation’s project is to provide basic meals to families in Sri Lanka, titled RPSL: Relief Package for Sri Lanka. She hopes that this will be a first step in alleviating at least a small fraction of the bigger struggle of those suffering from the economic crisis.
Other awards given at the event included the Lifetime achievement award, Outstanding Performance by a Young Professional, and the Srimerican award. Amongst the awardees were physicians, scientists, entertainers, philanthropists, and more. It was a remarkable moment in history as Sri Lankan talent came to life, making one realize the extraordinary potential of the people from a teardrop shaped island.
Last but not the least, Dr. Zainab highlights how phenomenal the work at SLF Int is at spreading Sri Lankan culture on a foreign land. She also shared how honored she was to have had the opportunity to be awarded at such a significant ceremony alongside an esteemed group of people who are making a difference in their communities. Indeed, through all their collective efforts they are bringing pride to our land of the lions.
Zainab is an old girl of Bangladesh International School in Riyadh and her father is Mohammed Ifthikar,an engineer and her mother Dr.Kifaya is a well-known dentist in Saudi Arabia.
