Sri Lanka Marks 15 Years of National Eye Bank, Records Strong Public Support for Eye Donation
Colombo, The Gulf Observer: Around 84 percent of Sri Lanka’s population has expressed willingness to donate their eyes, reflecting widespread public support for corneal donation programmes and the country’s growing contribution to global eye care initiatives, according to official data presented at a special ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Sri Lanka National Eye Bank Trust.
The commemorative event was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall under the patronage of Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
Originally established on February 24, 2011, the institution was officially renamed the Sri Lanka National Eye Bank Trust under Act No. 2 of 2023, with Dr. Jasinghe currently serving as Chairman.
Officials revealed that over the past 15 years, the Eye Bank has collected more than 17,000 corneal tissues, of which approximately 12,000 have been successfully transplanted within Sri Lanka, restoring sight and improving the quality of life for thousands of patients suffering from corneal blindness.
In addition to domestic transplants, between 4,000 and 4,500 corneal tissues have been supplied internationally in response to growing demand, particularly from Asian countries including Singapore, as well as South Africa. Sri Lanka has consequently emerged as a recognised contributor within global eye donation and transplantation networks.
The Eye Bank operates as a specialised medical institution responsible for collecting corneal tissue from deceased donors, scientifically processing the tissue, and facilitating transplants for patients affected by corneal blindness.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Anil Jasinghe paid tribute to Dr. Charith Fonseka, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Eye Bank, acknowledging his pioneering efforts and longstanding service in establishing and developing the institution.
During the ceremony, commemorative mementoes were presented to staff members of the Eye Bank Trust and to families of eye donors in recognition of their invaluable contribution toward restoring vision to patients in need.
The event was attended by senior health officials, ophthalmologists, representatives of major healthcare institutions, medical staff, members of the Eye Bank Trust’s Board of Directors, and donor families, underscoring the country’s continued commitment to advancing eye care and organ donation awareness.
