Our Organisation

I'm John Bunter and I serve as OST Chair of Trustees and was an original trustee from 2005.  I have had a long affiliation with Sri Lanka, largely through my wife Dilanee, who founded the charity, I have visited the country many times and have gained an appreciation of the cultural, political and economic issues facing the country.​

​As a family, we live in Fleet, Hampshire. Our three children, who have now emerged into their 30s, have all taken an interest in OST and its projects in the country, and have participated in several of the October visits. I am now retired, with my professional background being in teaching modern languages to secondary-age school children. I am a member of local sports and games clubs and am still active as a football referee.

I first became involved in Ocean Stars in 2012 when I visited Sri Lanka with a colleague. Our visit was to investigate whether an international school partnership could be set up between Calthorpe Park School and selected schools in Sri Lanka. Since then, I have been one of the leaders taking a group of students from Calthorpe Park School to visit Sri Lanka each year and work in our partner schools. In 2021 I was asked to be the Secretary for the OST Trustees Board, and it has been a privilege to see the Charity grow over the years and continue to 'empower children through education'.

Hi, I'm Dilanee Bunter and I was born in Sri Lanka and lived there until I was 15 years old. When the Tsunami happened on 26th Dec 2004, I felt I wanted to do something personal to help the people of Sri Lanka rebuild their shattered lives. Friends and relatives in Sri Lanka introduced me to various post-Tsunami relief projects and so the Ocean Stars Trust was born. I work as a teacher and a counsellor for the Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) Service of Hampshire County Council.

Hi, I'm Jo & I hold the post of sponsoring manager on our Board of Trustees..  I have been involved with Ocean Stars since its inception in 2005 & it has been a privilege to see how it has grown over the years.  I have known Dilanee since I first moved to Fleet in 1991 & our children all grew up together so it felt only natural to become involved following the Boxing Day tsunami when Dilanee first began fundraising to bring relief to those affected.​

I have visited our projects and schools in Sri Lanka & have seen first-hand the impact that Ocean Stars has on the lives of people living in some of the most remote parts of the country.

Hi, I'm Cam, I have been studying and working in the international development field for the past 7 years now and recently carried over my Project Evaluation skillset to the charity sector. I have had the pleasure of knowing the Bunter family for four years now and within that time I was lucky enough to spend time in Sri Lanka, admiring the wonderful island, but also visiting the excellent projects of Ocean Stars. I was incredibly impressed by what I saw and since, the hard work I have come to know in the background. I therefore leapt at the opportunity to become part of the organisation and I was delighted when my application to be a Trustee was approved in early 2022. I hope to both provide my professional insight where I can, but also immerse myself and learn from the wonderful staff we have in Ocean Stars Lanka, but also the brilliant Trustees around me.

It is a real privilege to be involved with Ocean Stars as a new Trustee. I've seen at first-hand the real difference that the hard work and generosity of many is making to the lives of communities in Sri Lanka. I'm looking forward to being involved with Ocean Stars and seeing how the work with children and young people will develop and grow.

Hi, I'm Rachel. I have a strong connection with Sri Lanka, having first visited the island in 2001 and witnessing first-hand the devastating effects of the tsunami in 2004. I had the privilege of travelling with a group of CPS students for 3 subsequent trips and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wonderful work of Ocean Stars and the impact of the charity on the children and communities it supports in some very poor and underfunded regions. I hope to remain involved in the charity and support its remarkable work in the years to come as my role of trustee.

Hi I'm Janine, and I have recently become a Trustee for Ocean Stars. I have been involved with the charity since the beginning as have been friends with Dilanee and the Bunter family since about 1991 when Dilanee, Jo and I met at a toddler group! I have been involved in fundraising since then, including a few cycling challenges with Jo and Maureen. I have been lucky to have been to Sri Lanka in 2011 and 2014, so have seen the impact of the charity's support on the children and their families. So I was honoured and delighted to be asked if I would like to become a trustee. I'm looking forward to working more closely with the other trustees on the development of the charity going forward.

I am privileged to serve as a trustee for The Ocean Star Charity, a wonderful organisation supporting schools, education, and children in Sri Lanka. My daughter took part in a trip with Calthorpe Park School through the charity, and we were deeply involved in fundraising efforts. Having seen the incredible difference the charity makes, I am proud to continue supporting such a fabulous cause and help ensure its ongoing success.

Hi, I'm Abdul Basith from Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. I was sponsored by Ocean Stars Trust from the age of 5, and that support played a crucial role in enabling me to continue my education during a very challenging period in my childhood. Through Ocean Stars, I was able to stay in school, build confidence, and pursue opportunities that shaped my future. Today, I work in communications and media across Sri Lanka and internationally, and I'm deeply committed to youth empowerment and social impact. It is a great privilege and honour for me to now serve as a Trustee of Ocean Stars Trust UK and to give back to the organisation that helped shape my life.

I'm delighted to continue to support the work of Ocean Stars Trust. I have been involved in the organisation since the beginning and have seen the community grow over the years, particularly since the first team visits. It is a pleasure to work closely with the U.K. trustee board focusing specifically on the annual away day and the yearly strategic review. Through this, we are able to ensure Ocean Stars continues to evolve as an organisation to be as sustainable and impactful as possible.

Hello everyone, my name is Salujah Dilshan. I graduated from South-Eastern University with my first degree and joined Ocean Stars Lanka (OSL) on April 18th, 2022, as a Sponsorship Manager and Preschool Assistant. Recently, I was promoted to the position of Assistant Director of OSL. I feel privileged and proud to be part of this organisation.​
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In my role, I handle various responsibilities such as paperwork, financial tasks, team leadership and management, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. I am passionate about sports, love working with children, and am deeply committed to helping underprivileged kids.​
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When I was offered the job with OSL, I was thrilled. The best part of my job is working with children, collaborating with volunteers, and contributing to the Child Development Programme. I also enjoy being part of the supportive and dedicated OSL team. Overall, I am very happy and grateful for this opportunity. Thank you.

Hello everyone. My name is Havaskar Dishanthini. I have successfully completed A/L Exam, Information and Communication Technology Technologist NVQ (Grade - 04), Diploma in Graphic Design and Diploma in Pre and Primary School and joined Ocean Stars Lanka (OSL) in January, 2020. as a Pre School Manager and Sponsorship Supervisor. I am passionate about working with children and deeply committed to helping underprivileged children and I am responsible for the welfare of our preschool communities and would like to see preschools come under Ocean Stars Lanka. My role includes monthly visits to our 25 pre-schools in Batticaloa and Ampara districts, WhatsApp group activities, 14 preschool feeding groups and recording any needs of the preschool in the way of classroom environment and resources. Monitoring the activity three times a year as in charge of CDP Tool and organising teacher training for teachers. Organising committee meeting at Ocean Star Lanka. Organising 03 days residential teacher training for teachers to be conducted once a year. Special arrangements are made for pre-school visiting volunteers when they arrive. I assist the Sponsorship Manager in my other role as Sponsorship Supervisor and regularly liaise with our sponsor families to check their record books. I am looking for opportunities to showcase my skills and further develop my career. In my spare time I enjoy in my gardening.

Hello, my name is Kanna Danushika. I have successfully completed my A/L examination and pursued a 6-month course in Information and Communication Technology, specialising as a Technician. Currently, I am working as the Sponsorship Manager and Preschool Assistant at Ocean Stars Lanka.​
One of my greatest passions is working with children. I find it incredibly rewarding to contribute to their growth and development, and I love creating a positive and nurturing environment for them. In my role, I enjoy engaging with the children, fostering their creativity, and helping them learn new skills.​
In the short term, I am looking for opportunities to showcase my skills and further grow my career. In my free time, I enjoy drawing and reading books, which help fuel my creativity and broaden my knowledge.