President’s Fund Launches Free Spectacles and Hearing Aids for University Students, Starting at Rajarata
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A student who cannot read the lecture board cannot participate fully in a lesson, while a student who cannot hear the lecturer faces a similar barrier, and both difficulties can gradually affect confidence, academic performance and access to opportunity. Recognising the importance of removing such hidden obstacles, the President’s Fund has launched a programme to provide free spectacles and hearing aids to university students in Sri Lanka.
The first phase was held at Rajarata University on Saturday, 19 September 2026, where students received free eye examinations throughout the day and those requiring corrective lenses were provided with them at no cost. The initiative, supported by private-sector organisations, represents a practical welfare partnership in which public institutions, donors and businesses share responsibility for helping students continue their education without preventable difficulty.
A direct response to an overlooked education barrier
Vision and hearing are fundamental to learning, yet students experiencing difficulties in either area may continue their studies without seeking assistance, particularly when the cost of examinations, spectacles or hearing devices is beyond the reach of their families.
A student with poor vision may struggle to read lecture slides, classroom boards, textbooks and examination papers, while a student with hearing difficulties may miss explanations, discussions and instructions delivered during lectures. These challenges are not always immediately visible, and therefore can remain unaddressed for extended periods.
The President’s Fund programme seeks to respond directly to these circumstances by connecting students with testing and practical assistance. At the inaugural event, eye examinations were offered free of charge, and students identified as requiring corrective lenses received spectacles without payment.
The approach is significant because the support does not stop at identifying a problem. By combining examination services with the provision of prescription lenses, the programme is designed to help students move from diagnosis to assistance through a single welfare intervention.
Rajarata University hosts the first programme
Rajarata University was selected as the location for the first phase of the initiative, establishing a model that officials expect to extend to other state universities in the future.
The first event was conducted on the university premises and was attended by D. M. Jayakody, Senior Assistant Registrar of Rajarata University, together with representatives of the sponsoring organisations. Their participation reflected the importance of cooperation between the university sector, public welfare institutions and private organisations when educational access is being strengthened.
The programme has been led by Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund. Speaking at the event, Gamage said that the President and the government want all children in the country to study without hindrance, describing this as their primary expectation.
He also stated that officials intend to roll out the initiative across all universities in the future. Although dates for subsequent university programmes have not yet been announced, the stated objective provides a clear indication that Rajarata University is intended to be the beginning of a broader national effort rather than an isolated campus activity.
Donated frames support a wider welfare programme
The spectacle frames used in this welfare initiative are being received through donations to the President’s Fund. The Fund intends to distribute donated frames free of charge among four principal groups:
- School children
- University students
- Technical college students
- Low-income citizens
Consequently, although the programme has commenced with university students, its underlying design is considerably wider. It recognises that access to clear vision is important at every stage of education and remains equally relevant to citizens whose household income makes healthcare-related expenses difficult to manage.
The inclusion of technical college students is particularly important, as practical and vocational education often requires students to read instructions, operate equipment safely and follow demonstrations closely. Similarly, schoolchildren who cannot see clearly may face difficulties long before those problems become apparent through examination results.
The programme therefore has the potential to become a broad education-support mechanism, provided that donated frames, professional services and hearing assistance can be maintained in a consistent and transparent manner.
Private-sector organisations share the responsibility
Private-sector backing has helped make the Rajarata University event possible, demonstrating how welfare initiatives can benefit when public institutions and businesses contribute according to their respective capacities.
The President’s Fund provides an institutional framework, while universities offer direct access to students and private organisations can assist through financial contributions, professional services, equipment and donated frames. Such cooperation can reduce the pressure placed on any single institution and improve the likelihood that assistance will reach deserving recipients.
Gamage thanked the sponsors and stakeholders who contributed to the programme. Their involvement also highlights the value of sustained support, since the success of a national initiative will depend not only on its launch but also on the continuity of examinations, prescription lenses, spectacle frames and hearing-related assistance at future locations.
Strengthening the President’s Fund
Gamage further stated that sound management had strengthened the President’s Fund by 50 per cent over the past two years, adding that its benefits were now reaching deserving people and children across the country.
That figure has been attributed clearly to Gamage’s statement at the event. It provides context for the launch of the new programme, although the reports do not provide the underlying financial figures or methodology used to calculate the stated increase.
The broader point remains relevant: effective management can expand the capacity of a welfare institution to respond to practical needs. When funds are administered responsibly and partnerships are organised efficiently, assistance can be directed towards services that produce immediate benefits for children, students and low-income citizens.
What students can expect
Based on the first programme at Rajarata University, students at participating campuses can expect the following process:
- A free eye examination conducted during the programme.
- Identification of students who require corrective lenses.
- Provision of prescription spectacles at no cost for eligible students.
- Access to hearing-related support through the wider programme for students with hearing difficulties.
- Frames supplied through donations received by the President’s Fund.
Students at other universities should monitor announcements issued by their university administration and the President’s Fund. The reports available at the time of publication do not provide a national timetable, application form or confirmed list of participating campuses.
The same principle applies to schoolchildren, technical college students and low-income citizens who may qualify under the wider frame-distribution programme. Further information about eligibility, dates and collection arrangements is expected to be communicated through the relevant institutions.
A promising first step for educational access
The launch at Rajarata University presents a positive and practical development in student welfare. A pair of spectacles or a hearing device may appear modest in comparison with the larger costs associated with higher education, but for an individual student, such assistance can determine whether classroom participation is a daily struggle or a manageable part of university life.
The programme also carries a broader social message. Educational disadvantage is not always caused by a lack of ability or commitment; in some cases, it is created by an untreated health need that can be addressed through relatively straightforward assistance.
If the President’s Fund succeeds in extending the initiative to universities across Sri Lanka, while also reaching schoolchildren, technical college students and low-income citizens, the programme could become an instrumental example of targeted welfare support. Its long-term value will depend upon regular implementation, transparent eligibility procedures, reliable donations and continued cooperation among universities, sponsors and public officials.
For students, the immediate message is encouraging: support for vision and hearing is being brought closer to the places where learning takes place. The Rajarata University programme has opened that path, with the prospect of wider access across Sri Lanka in the future.
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Source: https://ceylondailynews.lk/home/2026/09/20/free-spectacles-university-students/
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Source: https://www.newswire.lk/2026/09/20/free-spectacles-hearing-aids-programme-launched-for-university-students/
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Source: https://hirunews.lk/english/489556/presidents-fund-launches-programme-to-provide-free-spectacles-and-hearing-aids-for-university-students
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