Addressing the inaugural session, the Minister emphasized that millions of people worldwide suffer from preventable or treatable eye diseases, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to ensuring equitable eye care services for all.
The two-day international conference is being held at the Monarch Imperial Hotel in Colombo and will continue until tomorrow (January 26). The event is themed “Vision Beyond Borders – Advancing Global Eye Care.”
The conference serves as a unique global platform for collaboration, learning, and leadership in eye health. It features free presentations, scientific sessions, and workshops covering a wide range of fields, including clinical optometry and vision therapy, advancements in optometric research, pediatric and geriatric eye care, public health and community eye services, low vision and rehabilitation, optometric technology, interdisciplinary eye care models, optometric education, and professional development.
Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that this international conference would contribute significantly to building a global platform dedicated to eye health and expressed his appreciation to the organizers for initiating such an important event in Sri Lanka.
He further noted that the name “Diyatarippu” symbolizes Sri Lanka’s proud history and its long-standing connection to the visual sciences, dating back more than 700 years. The Minister stressed that the conference is not merely an academic gathering but a collective commitment to protecting vision—one of humanity’s most valuable senses.
Highlighting that visual impairment and avoidable blindness remain major global public health challenges, the Minister pointed out that lack of awareness and limited access to treatment continue to affect millions. He underscored the crucial role of optometry professionals as the first point of contact in the eye care system, connecting communities with preventive, curative, and rehabilitative vision services.
Reaffirming the Government’s stance, he stated that eye health is an essential component of Universal Health Coverage. National public health policies increasingly prioritize eye care, school vision screening programs, elderly eye health, and the integration of optometric services at primary healthcare levels.
The Minister also emphasized ongoing efforts to strengthen national eye care services through policy leadership, system integration, coordinated national programs across provincial and district levels, allocation of financial, human, and infrastructural resources, and capacity building through the training and deployment of ophthalmologists, nurses, optometrists, and primary healthcare staff.
The conference is organized by the Eye Care Institute in collaboration with the Ceylon Eye Care Optometric Association.
Several distinguished guests attended the event, including Colombo Mayor Vrai Callebaut Balthazar, President of the World Council of Optometry Dr. Rajiv Prasad, former President of the College of Ophthalmologists Dr. Kusum Ratnayake, President of the Organization of Professional Associations Jayantha Gallage, along with eye care specialists, ophthalmologists, researchers, academics, and industry partners.
