Professor Parakrama Wijekoon Director, Smile train Center Peradeniya The Silver Jubilee of the Smile Train Cleft Centre at the University of Peradeniya marks 25 years of life-changing healthcare. Cleft lip and palate are the most common congenital head and neck anomalies in Sri Lanka, affecting 1 in 700 live births. Established in 2001, the centre operates under Smile Train’s sustainable “teach a person to fish” model, empowering local doctors rather than relying on temporary foreign missions. Today, the centre performs 110 to 150 surgeries annually, covering over 30% of the nation’s cleft cases. Over a quarter-century, the team has completed more than 6,000 free surgeries. Remarkably, despite being entitled to professional fees from the global organization, no local team member has ever accepted personal payment. Every cent earned—totaling 350 million LKR—has been transparently reinvested. This stewardship has funded a new building complex, modern operating theatre equipment, public outreach programs, and free multidisciplinary training and textbooks. To ensure future care, the centre has secured 120 million LKR in fixed deposits and a 100 million LKR reserve in USD savings. The Peradeniya team continues to restore smiles, speech, and hope across Sri Lanka.
A Legacy of Smiles: Celebrating 25 Years of the Smile Train Cleft Centre Peradeniya
Professor Parakrama Wijekoon Director, Smile train Center Peradeniya The Silver Jubilee of the Smile Train Cleft Centre at the University of Peradeniya marks 25 years of life-changing healthcare. Cleft lip and palate are the most common congenital head and neck anomalies in Sri Lanka, affecting 1 in 700 live births. Established in 2001, the centre operates under Smile Train’s sustainable “teach a person to fish” model, empowering local doctors rather than relying on temporary foreign missions.
Today, the centre performs 110 to 150 surgeries annually, covering over 30% of the nation’s cleft cases. Over a quarter-century, the team has completed more than 6,000 free surgeries. Remarkably, despite being entitled to professional fees from the global organization, no local team member has ever accepted personal payment. Every cent earned—totaling 350 million LKR—has been transparently reinvested. This stewardship has funded a new building complex, modern operating theatre equipment, public outreach programs, and free multidisciplinary training and textbooks. To ensure future care, the centre has secured 120 million LKR in fixed deposits and a 100 million LKR reserve in USD savings. The Peradeniya team continues to restore smiles, speech, and hope across Sri Lanka.
