Sri Lanka's first Eye Bank opens

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa this afternoon declared open the first National Eye Bank constructed at a cost of 300 million rupees at the National Eye Hospital premises.


The construction of the hospital was funded by the Lee Foundation of Singapore through Asia Cornea Foundation and Singapore National Eye Centre with the cooperation of the Sri Lankan government.


The main objective of the Eye Bank is to provide corneas with high standard to local hospitals as well as to foreign hospitals.
The President also inspected the laboratory of the Eye Bank and had cordial discussions with the patients in the hospital.
The Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena participating at this function has said the opening of the eye bank is an important threshold in the health sector of Sri Lanka. The Minister also has pointed out the importance of proper management of the resources of the health sector.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented a memento to the Director of Singapore National Eye Centre Professor Donald Tan for his support.
Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake, MP Thilanga Sumathipala, Secretary of Health Dr. Ravindra Ruberu, Director of General Hospital Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Eye Surgeon Dr. Charith Fonseka and the doctors and the staff of the Eye Hospital were also present.