• Building hope for children with disabilities in SL

Within the quiet confines of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kelaniya stands a centre that represents something far greater than brick and mortar. It represents hope: ‘Ayati’, a word rooted in Sanskrit, carries this meaning, and for thousands of Sri Lankan families, that hope has become reality.

Launched in 2016, the Ayati Foundation was established with a simple but powerful conviction: “Every child deserves equal rights. This is what we believe. This is what we strive to achieve.” In just a few years, the foundation has transformed into Sri Lanka’s first National Centre of Excellence for children with disabilities, offering specialised services free of charge, while challenging stigma and creating pathways for inclusion.

A national need

Disability is not a marginal issue; it is a national one. Studies suggest that one in five children in Sri Lanka lives with some form of disability, whether physical, developmental, or psychological. Many of these children are hidden from society, facing not just medical challenges but also cultural stigma and limited opportunities.

The Ayati Foundation Chairperson Professor Nilanthi de Silva emphasised the urgency of addressing this reality.

“For far too long, children with disabilities in Sri Lanka have been invisible. Families struggle in silence, often without access to proper care or education. At Ayati, our mission is to give these children the opportunity to reach their unique potential, and to ensure they are recognised as valuable members of society,” she said.

This vision was made possible through an extraordinary public-private partnership. The University of Kelaniya provided land and clinical expertise, while corporate giants Hemas Holdings and MAS Holdings stepped in as key donors. The Sri Lanka Army built the centre within a record 13 months, and the Rotary movement and Roshan Wijerama Family Foundation provided additional support. Together, they raised Rs. 550 million to make Ayati a reality.

More than a centre

Opened in January 2020, the Ayati Centre today serves between 175 to 200 children daily, with more than 7,000 children already registered. Its facilities include Sri Lanka’s first sensory room, a state-of-the-art audiology unit, family therapy services, occupational and physiotherapy clinics, and multidisciplinary training hubs.

But Ayati is more than a place for treatment. It is a hub for research, advocacy, and training. The centre provides hands-on clinical training for over 200 undergraduates from the Faculty of Medicine while conducting workshops for paediatricians, teachers, parents, and caregivers across the island.

When the Covid-19 pandemic restricted movement, Ayati introduced tele-health services, ensuring that children did not lose access to therapy and parents continued to receive guidance.

“What makes Ayati unique,” said Prof. de Silva, “is that it is not just about clinical care. It is about long-term integration. Our vision is to ensure equal access to education, healthcare, social participation, and eventually employment. We want every child, regardless of their abilities, to be able to live a full and meaningful life.

Shifting mindsets

One of Ayati’s most critical missions is breaking stigma. In many parts of Sri Lanka, disabilities are seen through the lens of shame, resulting in children being hidden away rather than supported. Families are often left isolated, facing both financial and emotional strain.

“The biggest barrier is not the disability itself,” Prof. de Silva noted. “It is society’s perception. A child with autism, or cerebral palsy, or hearing loss, has talents and strengths that can enrich our communities. But if we don’t give them the opportunity, those strengths are lost.”

Through public awareness campaigns, parent education programmes, and partnerships with schools, Ayati is helping communities see disability differently, not as a limitation, but as a different way of being.

Human impact

For families, Ayati has become a lifeline. Parents travel from across the island, from Jaffna to Hambantota, to seek its services. Many arrive with uncertainty, unsure if their children will ever be able to attend school, speak, or live independently. At Ayati, they find not just medical support, but compassion and community.

Stories abound of transformation: a child who could not speak now finding words through speech therapy; a teenager with cerebral palsy learning to walk with physiotherapy support; a mother who once felt isolated gaining strength from parent support groups.

A model of sustainability

The success of Ayati lies in its sustainability model. Though built with major philanthropic investment, the foundation continues to raise funds to cover operational costs, ensuring that services remain free.

The model blends academic expertise, corporate social responsibility, and community engagement: a template that other countries could emulate.

“We cannot depend on charity alone,” says Prof. de Silva. “Ayati is designed as a sustainable, national initiative. It belongs to Sri Lanka, and it will grow with Sri Lanka.”

Looking ahead

Ayati’s ambition does not stop at Ragama. The foundation envisions expanding services islandwide, making sure no child is left behind due to geography or financial constraints. Partnerships with provincial hospitals, mobile outreach programmes, and community training sessions are being explored as ways to reach more families.

Equally important is the focus on future employment. Ayati is working to create pathways for adolescents with disabilities to transition into meaningful work, breaking cycles of dependency and exclusion.

“Our children are not burdens,” Prof. de Silva stressed. “They are assets. With the right support, they can contribute to our economy, our culture, and our communities. Ayati is about creating those opportunities.”

The power of hope

At its heart, Ayati is about dignity and possibility. Its name – hope – is not symbolic alone; it is a lived reality for the thousands of families who walk through its doors.

The work is far from over. With one in five children estimated to face some form of disability, the need is vast. Yet Ayati stands as proof that with vision, collaboration, and compassion, change is possible.

Prof. de Silva summed it up best: “Ayati is not just a centre. It is a movement. A movement that says every child matters. A movement that insists disability does not define destiny. And a movement that is building a future where no child is left behind.”

As Sri Lanka looks towards recovery and renewal, Ayati shines as a reminder of what can be achieved when hope is not just a word, but a commitment.