Navajeevana - Sri Lanka

"New Life"

By Tanja Houwerzijl

The non-governmental organisation, Navajeevana or 'new life' has been working with mentally and physically disabled grown-ups and children for the last 20 years. Navajeevana is based in Tangalla in the Hambantota district in Southern Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, people with disability face discrimination, stigma and poor services in Sri Lanka. Needless to say, weak infrastructure, scarce services, the legacy of the tsunami and the long civil war do not help to decrease a lack of understanding amongst ordinary people about the prevention and treatment of disabilities. Therefore despite Sri Lanka’s rapid growth, people with disabilities remain some of the most vulnerable and excluded in its society.