Sri Lanka donates corneas to South Africa

(November 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society and Pretoria Eye Institute, participated in a ceremony to officially hand over five corneas donated by the Sri Lankan Eye Donation Society to the Pretoria Eye Institute on 04th November 2009 at the Pretoria Eye Institute in Pretoria. Dr. H S Casim, Medical Director of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, and Mr. Janath Matara Arachchi participated in the event representing Eye Donation Society of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Eye Donation Society has regularly donated corneas to the Pretoria Eye Bank and this donation is considered a milestone in the growing relationship between the two institutions and the peoples of South Africa and Sri Lanka, as this particular donation will bring the figure to over 100 corneas donated from Sri Lanka to South Africa. It is estimated that there are more than three thousand South Africans who cannot complete their schooling or lose jobs while suffering from treatable corneal blindness. This donation is expected to make a significant difference in the lives of South African patients and would definitely enhance the existing good relations between the two countries and its people.

-Sri Lanka Guardian