Sri Lanka National Eye Bank, pride of entire Asian region - Dr Abdul Kalam

Urges doctors to serve underprivileged people in rural villages :

Disna Mudalige

The Sri Lanka National Eye Bank is a pride of the entire Asian region since no other Eye Bank in the world supplies or transplants corneas free of charge to the public, said former Indian President and famous scientist Dr Abdul Kalam who is on a brief visit to Sri Lanka.

He observed that corneas donated by the Sri Lankan community with the intention to earn merit are being provided free not only to Sri Lankans but even to foreign countries when the need arises.

Kalam noted that even though he had seen high tech modern eye banks elsewhere in the world, National Eye Bank in Sri Lanka was the best of all, due to its noble service.

He made these comments joining in an inspection tour to Colombo National Eye Hospital and National Eye Bank on Saturday. He also planted a mango sapling in the Colombo National Eye Hospital premises as a memory of his tour in Sri Lanka.

The former Indian President also requested Sri Lankan doctors to serve underprivileged people in rural villages in Sri Lanka at least for a few years.

All doctors of the Colombo National Eye Hospital participated in this occasion. These doctors made a vow before the former Indian President stating that they would serve people in rural areas at least for a few years during their service period.

Kalam also assured Indian government support for the improvement of the Colombo National Eye Hospital.

Making the welcome speech, Health Ministry additional secretary Dr Palitha Maheepala observed that Kalam was a great personality who had won the challenges of life through hardships.

He also noted that Kalam who had obtained 43 degrees had earned the love of the majority of Sri Lankans for his exceptional intellectuality.

Colombo National Eye Hospital Director Dr Sisira Liyanage also participated.