Disability in Sri Lanka: Ignored and (almost) forgotten
Disability, whether mental and / or physical in origin, is a large national problem in Sri Lanka. More than 9 percent of the population is affected by it! The reasons for this are complex and range from malnutrition (children’s disability), agriculture and traffic accidents, war injuries, alcohol abuse, to inbreeding. Poor hygiene and lack of medical care – especially in rural areas – exacerbate this situation. No social network for people affected exists in Sri Lanka. The Brighter Life Foundation provides therapeutic assistance and support for education of disabled people as well as prevention work in the field.
The Brighter Life Foundation, a Swiss-run Foundation, was founded in 2004 with the aim to assist disability charities in Sri Lanka in a responsible and sustainable way.
The Brighter Life Foundation intends, along with providing customized therapy for mentally and / or physically disabled people, to also enable disabled people to integrate socially through educational work in Sri Lanka.
Ceylon became independent within the British Commonwealth on February 4, 1948. On May 4, 1972, Ceylon became a Republic, taking the name Sri Lanka.
The work of the Brighter Life Foundation would not be possible without the generous support of our institutional and private donors not be possible. We thank all our donors and pledge to continue to work with professionalism and accountability.