Artificial limbs for disabled

Presidential award for best creation at inventors' competition:

Suranjith PERERA Dehiwala Mt. Lavinia Corr.

A friend's adversity has inspired an enterprising youth to venture into the production of artificial limbs of high international standard to cater to the disabled. Aruna Samarawickrama was so moved by the agony of his soldier friend who had lost a leg in the Chavakachcheri battle against terrorists in 2005 and the plight of his

parents, that he resolved to bring solace to their hearts by turning out a limb all by himself to help his friend to proudly stand up once again.

Several weeks of hard and dedicated effort enabled him to turn out a sophisticated limb which fitted his soldier friend well enabling him to stand up and attend to his daily errands by himself.

This artificial limb won the Presidential award for the best creation at the new invention competition held in 2005 and a silver medal in the science sector at the 35th new inventors competition held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2007.

The boost and recognition earned by his product inspired Aruna Samarawickrama dedicate himself to the welfare of the disabled by launching his own company Aawas International (Pvt) Ltd. and starting his own factory at the Kalutara, Nagoda Industrial Park with State assistance for the production of quality artificial limbs which are of light weight and easily manouvarable.

Recalling his feat with humility Samarawickrama said he would not have entered this field if not for the kind intervention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The President provided me an opportunity to present this product to the international competition through the New Inventors Commission and obtain a patent to produce it. "When I won the silver medal in Geneva many countries including France, Germany and Israel told me to produce it commercially in their countries promising citizenship. Israel even offered me 50 million dollars for the patent rights. I declined all these offers and decided to produce it locally for the sake of disabled Sri Lankans including war heroes."

Samarawickrama said his factory was opened in November, 2008 and its maiden output of three artificial limbs were donated to three disabled war heroes by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 3 last year (2008).

"We have a residential facility at the factory premises to train the disabled in wearing our product before going back to society. There are two separate wards in it reserved for males and females and also several separate single rooms. Many disabled persons have come here and walked back proudly wearing the artificial limb produced by us."

Samarawickrama said he has decided to stage a 248 km walk from Kalutara to Kataragama by eight disabled persons wearing their product. The walked themed Piya Satahan will be done in four stages with two of them participating in each stage.

Anyone needing further information on this product please requested to contact him on mobile numbers 077-2975491, 077-2975492 or 077-2975493.