The Sri Lanka-Maldives Business Council (SLMLBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative on Faresmaathoda Island, a remote fishing community 465 km from Malé.
In response to a request from the island’s council for medical support, SLMLBC partnered with Mr. M. Wickramarachchi, an optician and hearing care specialist, to provide essential eye and hearing care. The team donated 600 pairs of spectacles, 100 pairs of sunglasses, and five hearing aids. A touching moment was the personal handing over of a hearing aid by Mr. Wickramarachchi to the grandfather of the island’s parliamentary minister. Additionally, medical testing equipment was donated to the island’s healthcare center, with training provided to local staff. Mr. Wickramarachchi also offered free education opportunities in Colombo for two island residents.
Reflecting on the initiative, SLMBC President Mr. Sudesh Mendis noted that the project had far exceeded expectations in fostering closer ties between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He also remarked on the historical connections between the two nations, highlighted by the surprising number of elderly islanders who spoke fluent Sinhala—an enduring testament to their long-standing trade and cultural exchanges.