JICA Sri Lanka Office

About Alumni Association

The participants who completed JICA training in Japan can join JICA Alumni Association (JICA AA) that as been organized by the ex-participants. JICA supports and encourages JICA AA members to promote friendship between the two countries as well as among themselves and upgrade their knowledge in respective fields of studies.
At present there are over 1000 members in this association. Arrangements of training courses, seminars, study tours, social welfare activities, cultural exchange programmes etc. are among the general activities.

Distant view of Sigiriya Rock from the South East

Saturday the 17th November 2007 was a somewhat special day for the villagers of Sigiriya-one of Asia’s major archaeological sites located nearly 150km away from the capital city Colombo in Sri Lanka. The WorldHeritageCity and palace at Sigiriya (‘the LionMountain’) are a unique combination of 5th century urban planning, architecture, engineering, hydraulics, garden design, painting, sculpture and poetry.

Long queue at the registration counter

Hundreds of people from Sigiriya and surrounding villages gathered from dawn at the Sigiriya Maha Vidyalaya (SigiriyaCentralCollege) with the hope to get their eyes examined by veteran ophthalmologists from Colombo. People in the area of Sigiriya mainly depend on paddy and chena cultivation and are mostly under privileged and always live under the poverty line of the country.

Eye examination by an Eye Surgeon

The Alumni Association comprising trainees who returned to Sri Lanka after participating in the training implemented in Japan by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held an ‘Eye & Dental Camp’ on November 17 in Sigiriya in the CentralProvince in Sri Lanka. This programme offered free eye check ups to approximately 700 local residents and donated eyeglasses to those who needed them. Eight ophthalmologists headed by the Director of the Eye Hospital in Colombo and Consultant Eye Surgeon Dr. (Mrs) Champa Banagala and four opticians participated in the programme.

This initiative has been carried out since 1999 with its start tracing back to Sri Lanka’s first President, the late Mr. Junius R. Jayawardene who spoke in defence of Japan at the San Francisco Peace Treaty Conference held after the Second World War. Then he was known as the person who rescued Japan. After his passing away, his corneas have been donated, one to Sri Lanka and other to Japan. The ‘Eye Camp’ initiative is put together to commemorate Mr. Jayawardane’s will to connect Sri Lanka and Japan together in a bond of friendship and to carry on his will.

Vision tests conducted by JOCVs

On 17th November, the day of ‘Eye Camp’, vision tests, eye examination and eyeglass adjustments were conducted from 8:30 to 15:00 at the Sigiriya Maha Vidyalaya, and eyeglasses were donated to whoever needed them. Fifteen (15) Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) & 2 Senior Volunteers (SV) dispatched to Sri Lanka by JICA participated in this event along with JICA staff members headed by the newly assumed Resident Representative Ms. Noriko Suzuki. They helped to carry out vision tests, guiding patients who came for tests and distribute eyeglasses received from France through the Lions Club.

A JOCV helps a patient to choose correct eyeglasses

At the eye camp, for patients who were diagnosed for cataract operations, all arrangements were done by the JICA Alumni. They did hospital arrangements and ensured their surgeries and post surgical care completely free of charge at the DambullaBaseHospital located few kilometers away from Sigiriya.Sixty (60) cataract operations which would cost USD 300 per operation if done at a private health institution were performed by three renowned Eye Surgeons at the hospital on the following day.

Cataract operations conducted at the Dambulla Base Hospital

Dingirimenike (72) a rural woman from an adjacent village of Sigiriya had come to the Eye Camp in the early morning hoping to receive free eye examination. “I came to know about this service from my grand daughter who learns at this school.” she said. Although she came for eye examination, doctors at the Eye Camp had told her that it is essential to undergo a surgery. “All I had do was to admit to the hospital and the following morning I was operated. It is a miracle. So quick and efficient. Now I am very much relieved. Thanks to the Eye Camp.” said gleaming Dingirimenike.

Operated patients walk along the corridor of the hospital with a hope to see the world again

Consultant Eye Surgeon Dr. (Mrs) Champa Banagala praised JICA for its collaboration and JOCVs contribution to the Eye Camp. “This is a great service. Helping the needy in rural areas give us much pleasure. I thank JICA for its support to make this event a success.” she said.

School children receive dental treatment

In addition to the above service, JICA Alumni along with the Dental Association of Ministry of Health organized a dental clinic for school children at the same venue. Nearly 250 school children received dental treatment plus awareness lectures on oral health.

JICA Alumni Association of Sri Lanka was established in 1972 and currently has over 1,200 members. Eye and Dental Camp is the biggest event of its humanitarian service and now, it has become an annual event of the Alumni Diary.