Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society wins Rehabilitation International 2019 Award in Moscow

Rehabilitation International President Zhang Haidi, Ambassador Jayatilleka and Sanja Jayatilleka, Ambassador of China to Russia Zhang Hanhui, Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, Ethiopian Alpha Special School for the Deaf, Ecuadorian politician and diplomat Maria Fernanda Espinosa, China Disabled People’s Art Troupe and other distinguished guests

On 1 November, E.M.H.B. Moragaswewa and Wijitha Manamperi representing the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society received an award from Rehabilitation International (RI) for Outstanding Achievements, in Moscow.  

Ambassador Jayatilleka participated as one of the presenters of RI 2019 Award to Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society for Outstanding Achievements in Rehabilitation and for ‘bringing light to many in need’. Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society is a non-governmental organisation founded by inaugural president Dr. Hudson Silva, who launched the first campaign to collect corneas in Sri Lanka in 1958. 

Today, the Eye Donation Society maintains the Sri Lanka International Eye Bank and Sri Lanka Model Human Tissue Bank, which is one of the largest in the world and donates human eyes and tissues for transplantation both in Sri Lanka and around the world.

The ceremony took place in Metropol Hotel, Moscow and gathered representatives of international communities including UN agencies, government departments, international disability organisations as well as private sectors who are committed to disability affairs. The official event was followed by the Gala dinner and performance of China Disabled People’s Art Troupe of visually impaired musicians and hearing impaired dancers. 

Ambassador Jayatilleka presents award to Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society

Ambassador Jayatilleka attended the Awarding Ceremony of the Rehabilitation International 2019 Award at the invitation of Rehabilitation International President Zhang Haidi, China Disabled Persons’ Federation, All-Russia Society of the Disabled and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Russia. 

Founded in 1922, Rehabilitation International has become a global organisation that empowers people with disabilities, advances their rights across the world and provides sustainable solutions towards achieving a more inclusive society for them.

The 2019 RI Award was also presented for Outstanding Achievements in Innovation to an Ecuadorian politician and diplomat, United Nations General Assembly for the 73rd session former President, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN, National Defense Minister and Ecuador Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa ‘for her innovative work in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities globally’.   

The Ethiopian Alpha Special School for the Deaf was awarded for Outstanding Achievements in Humanitarianism ‘for composing symphony in the world without sound’. The school was founded in 1966 and now successfully helps deaf children to develop the practical social skills. 

Ambassador Jayatilleka and E.M.H.B. Moragaswewa and Wijitha Manamperi representing Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society