THILAKMA CITY (PVT) LTD LAUNCHES “THILAKMA SMILES” TO RESTORE SIGHT FOR CHILDREN AT LADY RIDGEWAY HOSPITAL

—“GiftofSight”ProjecttoRaiseFundsforLife-ChangingPediatricEyeCare —

Childhood cataract is one of the few causes of blindness that can be cured. Yet, for many children in Sri Lanka, the chance to see the world clearly is lost simply because help does not reach them in time. Recognising the urgency of early intervention and the profound impact sight has on a child’s development, Thilakma City (Private) Limited has partnered with the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for Children to support life-changing paediatric eye care through its “SMILES” donation initiative.

When a child is diagnosed with cataracts, time is critical. Every week and every month of delay affects how young eyes learn to see, often resulting in permanent visual impairment. LRH in Colombo stands as the country’s main centre for paediatric eye surgeries, where dedicated specialists work tirelessly to save children’s sight. These delicate procedures require specialised cataract lenses, anaesthesia, and long-term follow-up care to protect a child’s vision as they grow. While the expertise and care are available, what is too often missing is the ability of families to afford the essential cataract lenses their children need.

LRH is capable of performing approximately 8–10 paediatric cataract surgeries, but many families who seek treatment come from humble backgrounds and are unable to bear the cost of the lenses. As a result, surgeries that could open a child’s world to light, colour, and learning remain just out of reach.

Responding to a formal request from LRH, Thilakma has committed to donating essential ophthalmic consumables, specifically cataract lenses, to support these surgeries. To mark this collaboration and raise wider awareness, Thilakma will host the “Thilakma Smiles” Donation Launch Event on 23 December 2025 at the 3rd Floor Auditorium of LRH.

Speaking on the initiative, Buddhika Kariyawasam, Managing Director of Thilakma City (Private) Limited, stated, “Childhood cataract is a condition that no child should lose their sight to— because it is treatable. At Thilakma, we believe every child deserves the chance 

to see their parents’ faces, to read, to dream, and to grow without limitations. Through the SMILES initiative, we hope to remove one of the biggest barriers to treatment by supporting the provision of essential cataract lenses and giving children a real chance at a brighter future.”

 Highlighting the medical significance of the initiative, Dr. Hiranya Abeysekera, Consultant Pediatric Ophthalmologist at LRH, stated, “Early treatment is absolutely vital in childhood cataract cases. Delays can permanently affect a child’s visual development, even if surgery is performed later. Access to the correct cataract lenses at the right time makes an enormous difference to outcomes. Initiatives such as SMILES directly support timely surgery and help ensure children have the best possible chance to develop normal vision and lead independent, fulfilling lives.” 

 As part of the initiative, the public is also invited to contribute to this cause by purchasing a ‘Smile Sticker’ from any Thilakma outlet, and support the cause. All funds raised through this campaign will go towards supporting child cataract surgeries at LRH. In a further commitment to impact, Thilakma will match and double the amount donated, with cataract lenses donated directly to LRH for children in need.

The donation programme will commence on 1 January 2025 and will continue for a period of one year, subject to donations received. Thilakma will focus solely on donating the required cataract lenses, while LRH will continue to carry out the surgeries and follow-up care.

With the right support, these sight-saving surgeries can transform darkness into hope—not just for one child, but for an entire family. Thilakma reaffirmed its commitment to creating meaningful, long-term social impact and expressed its appreciation to the medical teams and administration of LRH for the opportunity to collaborate on this vital national cause.