Sri Lanka will provide free glasses to over 22,000
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Sri Lankan government began a program to give free eye exams and spectacles to 22,500 visually impaired people over age 40 from low-income families.
Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Upali Pannila launched the initiative at the Kelaniya Divisional Secretariat, with plans to expand it across all administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities is carrying out the program.
In addition to the spectacles, the government will give 50,000 Sri Lankan Rupees to visually impaired children under 18 to help them buy glasses. The government allocated 21 million Rupees for 2026 to purchase spectacles and other assistive devices for people with disabilities. Minister Pannila explained the program intends to help visually impaired individuals with everyday tasks and employment, and he noted that access to assistance has been improved by moving services to the Divisional Secretariat level.
A separate program will also provide free spectacles to university students.
