Assist RR funded Projects in 2025 in Sri Lanka

Our charitable activities in 2025 are listed below. We mainly focused on eye related projects in 2025. Brief details of these projects are:

Free cataract surgeries:

Using funds raised by our friends, families, and like-minded charities in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, Assist RR funded 13,975 cataract surgeries in 11 government hospitals covering 15 districts between Dec 2024 and Dec 2025 – Summary of Cataract Surgeries funded in 2025. Assist RR, which started funding cataract surgeries in 2013, has now funded around 75,300 cataract surgeries by the end of Dec 2025.  Waiting time in the Northern Province (except Vavuniya) is currently a matter of days only. This situation became a reality because of the dedication and hard work of Dr M Malaravan (Eye Surgeon) and his team at the eye unit of TH Jaffna, and uninterrupted supplies of Intra Ocular Lens (IOLs) and consumables by Assist RR since Jan 2023.

Nahuleswary Vasudevan Free Spectacles Program to School Children in the North:

Assist RR (SL) in collaboration with Alaka Foundation (Malaysia), the Eye Unit of Teaching Hospital Jaffna, and the Northern Provincial Council provided 9313 free spectacles to school children in the North. This project was funded by Alaka Foundation through Assist RR (SL), and aimed at providing free spectacles to school children from Grade 1 to 12 with refractive errors. Almost 230,000 school children from the 5 districts in the north were initially screened by trained teachers. Children, who were identified by the teachers, were later checked by the specialists (Optometrists). Dr M Malaravan, who lead the project, was personally involved in teachers’ training, attended all specialist screening sessions at educational zones (ZDE divisions) and saw children, who needed further medical support. Total cost of spectacles was LKR 14,312,512.00.

Rural Eye Health Care Project:

Assist RR in collaboration with the Commanding Officer of 56 Infantry Division, Maj General S Kasturimudali, conducted eye screening in 13 villages (3 villages in Puthukudiyiruppu and 10 villages in Vavuniya) in 2024 & 2025. Nearly 5000 villagers were screened. Around 1400 spectacles and 1200 reading glasses were given free as a result of this project. Nearly 700 patients were taken to TH Jaffna to receive cataract surgeries. Most of them were able to go back to their work as a result.

Providing clean drinking water:

Dr Shyam Gunaratnam, a Solihull School (UK) Parent, celebrated his 50th birthday in Dec 2024. Instead of receiving birthday presents, he invited his friends and families to join him in supporting access to clean drinking water. He had previously taken on two Ultra Challenges as part of Team Solihull to help the poor and vulnerable in Sri Lanka. This 50th birthday initiative by Dr Shyam raised £4800 in the UK. Assist RR used this to provide clean water connections to around 130 families in Thunnalai and Varani in the Jaffna Peninsula.

Kn/Sivapathakalaiyagam GTM School, Kilinochchi

A library building to this school was funded and constructed by Assist RR (UK & SL) and was declared open by Hon. Governor of Northern Province Mr Nagalingam Vethanayahan on 12 March 2025. Total cost of this building was around LKR 5 million. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18n21NY9Lo/?mibextid=WC7FNe

We sincerely hope that we can do more to help the needy people in Sri Lanka with the support of our friends and families worldwide.