Free spectacles and hearing aids for university students are here. See how the President’s Fund programme works and when it reaches your campus
The President’s Fund has launched a programme to give free spectacles and hearing aids to university students in Sri Lanka. The first event took place at Rajarata University on Saturday (19), and officials say every state university could follow.
A student who cannot read the board cannot learn. A student who cannot hear the lecturer faces the same wall. On Saturday, the President’s Fund took a direct step to remove those barriers. It opened a new programme at Rajarata University that offers free eye care and, in time, hearing support to university students.
This article explains what happened, who benefits, what the numbers say, and what the programme could mean for education in Sri Lanka.
What the Programme Does
The President’s Fund held the first phase of its free spectacles and hearing aids programme at the Rajarata University premises on Saturday (19). Students received free eye examinations throughout the day. Those who needed corrective lenses received them at no cost.
Private-sector organisations backed the event, which shows how public and private groups can share the load on a welfare project.
The plan reaches well beyond one campus. The President’s Fund receives donated spectacle frames, and it intends to give them free to four groups:
- School children
- University students
- Technical college students
- Low-income citizens
The programme starts with university students, but its design covers a much wider group.
Who Leads the Effort
Roshan Gamage leads the initiative as Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund. He spoke at the event and set out the reasoning behind it.
Gamage said the President and the government want all children in the country to study without hindrance. He said this is their primary expectation. He also said officials will roll the initiative out across all universities in the future.
D. M. Jayakody, the Senior Assistant Registrar of Rajarata University, attended the event. Representatives of the sponsoring organisations were there too. Gamage thanked all sponsors and stakeholders who helped make the programme possible.
Why Vision and Hearing Support Matter
Sight and hearing sit at the centre of learning. Students read textbooks, follow slides, take notes and listen to lectures every day. If a student struggles with any of these tasks because of a health need, grades and confidence can suffer. Nobody chooses to struggle in class, but many students carry on without proper support because they cannot afford it.
That is the gap this programme targets. Spectacles and hearing aids cost money, and a family already paying for university fees, travel and food may not have much left. When a student puts off an eye test to save money, the cost does not disappear. It shows up later as missed lessons, tired eyes and lower marks.
By covering both the exam and the lenses, the programme removes the biggest early obstacle. A student walks in, gets tested and leaves with what they need.
Five Things This Programme Tells Us
1. The programme starts small on purpose.
Officials chose a single university for the first phase. That approach lets them test the process, spot problems and fix them before they scale. Starting at one campus is a common way to launch a large welfare scheme.
2. The private sector carries part of the weight.
Private organisations supported the event, and donors supply the spectacle frames. This spreads the cost and pulls in community goodwill. It also raises a fair question that observers will watch: how steady will donations be over the long term? A programme that depends on gifts needs a reliable flow of them.
3. The target group is wide.
The stated plan covers school children, university students, technical college students and low-income citizens. That reach matters. Technical college students often get less public attention than university students, so including them signals a broader view of who needs help.
4. Officials link the programme to fund strength.
Gamage said sound management has strengthened the President’s Fund by 50% over the past two years. He said its benefits now reach deserving people and children across the country. That is his claim, and the source material does not give the figures behind it. Readers who want to judge it should look for the fund’s published accounts.
5. The real test is delivery.
Announcing a programme is easy. Reaching every eligible student is hard. Success will depend on how many universities join, how quickly students receive their spectacles and how well hearing support reaches those who need it.
What Students Can Expect
Based on the first event, students at participating universities can expect a simple process:
- A free eye examination on the day of the programme
- Free prescription lenses for those who need them
- Frames supplied through donations to the President’s Fund
Students at other universities should watch for announcements from their own administration. Gamage said the programme will extend to all universities, but the source material gives no dates.
Why This Matters for Sri Lanka
Education carries heavy weight in Sri Lankan families. Parents sacrifice a great deal to keep their children in school and university. Health needs that go untreated can quietly undo that effort.
A pair of spectacles is a small item. For a student who has strained to read for months, it changes daily life. The same is true of a hearing aid for a student who has missed half of every lecture.
If the programme grows as officials describe, it could help thousands of students study on equal terms with their classmates. It could also set a model for other welfare projects that combine state funds, private support and local partners.
A Promising First Step
The Rajarata University event is a first step, and the President’s Fund should be judged by what comes next. Officials have made clear promises: extend the programme to every university, and share frames with school children, technical college students and low-income citizens. Those promises now need timelines, numbers and public updates.
For students, the message is simple. Free help for your eyes, and in time your hearing, is on its way. Watch for the programme to reach your campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the free spectacles and hearing aids programme?
The President’s Fund launched it to give free spectacles and hearing aids to university students. The first phase took place at Rajarata University on Saturday (19).
2. Who is running the programme?
The President’s Fund runs it, with support from the private sector. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund, leads the effort.
3. What did students receive at the first event?
Students received free eye examinations throughout the day. Those who needed prescription lenses received them free of charge.
4. Who can get free spectacle frames?
The President’s Fund plans to give donated spectacle frames free to school children, university students, technical college students and low-income citizens.
5. Will the programme reach other universities?
Yes. Roshan Gamage said officials will roll out the initiative across all universities in the future. The President’s Fund has not announced dates or a list of campuses yet.
6. How can a student apply?
The President’s Fund has not published an application process. Students should watch for announcements from their university administration and the President’s Fund.
7. Does the programme cost students anything?
No. Officials describe the eye examinations, lenses and frames as free of charge.
8. Why did the President’s Fund start this programme?
Gamage said the President and the government want all children in the country to pursue their education without hindrance. He said this is their primary expectation.
9. Who supports the programme besides the government?
Private-sector organisations support it, and donors provide the spectacle frames. Gamage thanked all sponsors and stakeholders at the event.
10. How is the President’s Fund performing?
Gamage said the fund has grown stronger by 50% over the past two years because of sound management. That is his claim, and the source material gives no figures behind it.