In recent years, Sri Lanka has been hit by an extreme economic crisis. 25% of Sri Lankans are estimated to be living in poverty. Three in ten households regularly do not have enough to eat, leaving families vulnerable to leprosy. In 2022, 1,401 people were diagnosed with the disease. 155 of these were children.

Our projects in Sri Lanka are implemented by our local partners – the Alliance Development Trust, Kaveri Kala Manram, and the Leprosy People’s Association of Sri Lanka People’s Forum for Change.

Through your support, we assist government leprosy services and organise community projects. We also work with people affected by leprosy to improve their quality of life and nutrition.

Supporting government leprosy services

We work with the national and regional governments to find and cure people affected by leprosy. Sri Lanka has just one doctor for every 1,042 people. We are training government health workers to treat the disease. And we are advocating for the end of legislation that discriminates against those affected.

Empowering people

We support the Leprosy People’s Association of Sri Lanka. Members are speaking up about their needs and advocating for equality. Our partners are also helping people affected by leprosy to understand their rights, and communities to tackle gender-based violence.

Peacebuilding is at the heart of our work in Sri Lanka, and we are bringing different ethnic and religious groups together to tackle leprosy. We are training people to be Advocates for Change, who work to improve leprosy services and combat discrimination.

Working with faith communities

We work closely with faith communities across Sri Lanka.

The Alliance Development Trust has joined with the Inter-religious Peace Foundation and the Government Anti-Leprosy Campaign to establish interfaith leprosy committees. These committees are chaired by church leaders, and include Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and other religious leaders. They work with the government to raise awareness about leprosy, find new cases, and reduce stigma and discrimination.

Improving quality of life

Once treated, people affected by leprosy often need further support. Many have joined local branches of the Leprosy People’s Association of Sri Lanka, where they build sustainable livelihoods by saving and growing food together.

We are also providing families affected by leprosy with wells. Stigma often prevents them from using community water sources, leaving many without access to safe water.

Agriculture and nutrition

People are more likely to develop leprosy if they have poor nutrition and low immunity. Once affected by leprosy, their nutrition is likely to be worse due to stigma, disability, and loss of livelihoods. Our partners Kaveri Kala Manram are helping people to improve their nutrition and livelihoods through sustainable farming.