By Rev. Fr. Anpurasa Sebamalai, OMI, Director of Amathikarangal LEBARA Wellness Centre; Prof Nadarajah Sreeharan, Trustee, Manitha Neyam UK Trust; and Prof Sanath Lamabadusiruya, Chairman, Meththa Rehabilitation Foundation Guarantee Limited For thousands of amputees living in Sri Lanka’s war-affected Vanni, the loss of a limb once meant a lifetime of dependence, isolation and poverty. Today, [...]
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By Rev. Fr. Anpurasa Sebamalai, OMI, Director of Amathikarangal LEBARA Wellness Centre; Prof Nadarajah Sreeharan, Trustee, Manitha Neyam UK Trust; and Prof Sanath Lamabadusiruya, Chairman, Meththa Rehabilitation Foundation Guarantee Limited
For thousands of amputees living in Sri Lanka’s war-affected Vanni, the loss of a limb once meant a lifetime of dependence, isolation and poverty. Today, thanks to the unwavering commitment of the Meththa Foundations and the generosity of charitable organisations from the Sri Lankan diaspora communities, many have regained not only their mobility but also their independence, dignity and hope. This remarkable humanitarian initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when compassion transcends ethnic, religious and political divisions.
Over the past three decades, more than 2,500 disadvantaged amputees, the overwhelming majority from vulnerable Tamil communities in the North, have received life-changing prosthetic limbs, rehabilitation and continuing care through an enduring partnership built on mutual trust, shared humanitarian values and a vision born from compassion.
A Meththa Foundation mobile prosthetic clinic
Recognition of a problem and a solution
During the height of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict, rehabilitation services for amputees were scarce, particularly in remote regions where the need was greatest. Recognising this enormous gap, a group of expatriate Sri Lankan medical professionals living in Birmingham, UK, established what would eventually become ‘Meththa Foundations’. Beginning in the early 1990s, they mobilised support from rehabilitation centres across the UK, collecting prosthetic components, wheelchairs and specialised equipment that would otherwise have gone unused. Experienced British medical consultants and prosthetists volunteered their time, while Sri Lankan technicians received advanced training in Birmingham and Sri Lanka, creating the foundations for a sustainable rehabilitation service. Initially working in accessible parts of the country, the organisation steadily expanded its reach, always guided by a simple principle: every amputee deserved the opportunity to walk again, regardless of background.
During the 2002 ceasefire and especially after the end of the conflict in 2009, Meththa Foundations turned their attention to the devastated communities of the Vanni. Many civilians had survived the war but faced lifelong disability, often without access to specialist rehabilitation. Meththa responded rapidly, establishing mobile prosthetic clinics throughout Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mankulam, Dharmapuram, Pooneryn, Vellankulam and Mallavi, as shown in the picture.
These outreach clinics became a lifeline for people who were unable to travel long distances because of disability, poverty or lack of transport. For countless men, women and children, receiving a modern artificial limb meant walking independently for the first time in years—or, in some cases, for the first time in their lives. Recognising that rehabilitation is a lifelong journey rather than a single intervention, Meththa Foundations invested in developing local expertise by training prosthetic technicians and rehabilitation staff, ensuring that services could be sustained within the communities they serve.
The LEBARA Foundation (now it is known as LBR Foundations) has been a principal supporter of the Mankulam rehabilitation programme
Building sustainable rehabilitation services
A major milestone was the partnership between Meththa Foundations and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), Jaffna. Commitment of the Oblate Fathers resulted in the establishment of the Amathikarangal LEBARA Wellness Centre at Mankulam. Inaugurated in 2014, the centre has become one of two premier prosthetic rehabilitation facilities serving the Vanni, providing ongoing maintenance, replacement limbs and comprehensive rehabilitation to hundreds of registered amputees. This long-term collaboration has demonstrated that sustainable rehabilitation depends not only on clinical expertise but also on strong local partnerships, community ownership and committed leadership.
The vital contribution of the diaspora
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of charitable organisations within the diaspora communities. The LEBARA Foundation (now it is known as LBR Foundations) has been a principal supporter of the Mankulam rehabilitation programme, providing sustained funding that has enabled the centre to deliver continuous care to hundreds of amputees year after year. The long-term commitment of LBR Foundations has ensured stability, allowing services to grow rather than simply survive. Equally significant has been the contribution of the Manitha Neyam Trust (MNT). Recognising that many disabled people in rural communities still faced major barriers in accessing rehabilitation, MNT supported the expansion of outreach prosthetic services. Their vision culminated in the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation facility in Kilinochchi in 2024 (the Manitha Neyam Centre for Disability Rehabilitation), with a strong outreach capacity, significantly strengthening access for disadvantaged families across the Vanni region. These organisations represent the very best of diaspora philanthropy—combining compassion, accountability and a deep commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable people in their homeland.
The work of Meththa Foundations extends far beyond fitting prostheses. Every artificial limb restores the possibility of employment, education and family life. It enables parents to provide for their children, allows young people to return to school and gives elderly patients the dignity of living independently. For many recipients, rehabilitation marks the beginning of social and economic reintegration after years of hardship. The programme has also become a powerful symbol of reconciliation, bringing together healthcare professionals, charitable organisations and communities from different backgrounds in pursuit of a shared humanitarian goal.
While the immediate needs of post-war rehabilitation have been met, the demand for ongoing prosthetic maintenance and replacement remains constant. Artificial limbs require regular review, adjustment and renewal throughout a person’s lifetime. The greatest challenge facing the service today is not simply financial support but the recruitment, training and retention of skilled prosthetic clinicians and technicians who can continue delivering high-quality care for future generations. Continued investment from charitable organisations, government agencies and generous donors will be essential to preserve this internationally respected rehabilitation programme.
The story of Meththa Foundations and their partners is one of perseverance, innovation and compassion. Working alongside the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI Fathers), government health services, dedicated volunteers and the invaluable support of the LBR Foundations, previously known as the LEBARA Foundation and ‘Manitha Neyam Trust’, the Meththa Foundations have transformed the lives of more than 2,500 disadvantaged amputees and continue to provide this service across the Vanni. Their work reminds us that rehabilitation is far more than replacing a lost limb—it is about restoring confidence, independence and hope. As this unique humanitarian partnership continues to serve some of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable citizens, it deserves the continued support of donors, charitable organisations, the wider community and the Government of Sri Lanka. Sustaining this work means ensuring that every amputee, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to stand, walk and live with dignity.
(Further information at: www.meththafoundation-sl-uk.org)
Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
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