Projects

Manithaneyam trust funded Kolam kickstarted today, 10th January 2019 at Rithihi, 19 Alfred House Gardens, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka  The brainchild and hard work of eight contemporary artists, KOLAM, a design studio in Jaffna to create items that utilized their training as artists using age-old craft traditions, not only resembling the age-old traditions of Jaffna peninsula, the team went through deep research to document the traditional arts and techniques which was never done and a priceless archive to the future generations. Manitha...

MNT, observant of the changing environment of unfortunate people, endeavour where possible to bring innovative solutions to match the requirement of the society. Realising the deteriorating health standards of the ageing population and due to unavailability of Tamil speaking healthcare providers who are capable of providing assistance to physically and mentally dependant and emotionally disturbed Tamil individuals in either the nursing home or domestic environment, MNT along with Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development (CORD) identified the Assistant Nurse training programme....

Importance of Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) is immense. It is the leading hospital in the Northern Province and the only hospital in the province controlled by the central government in Colombo. The hospital is also the only teaching hospital in the Northern Province which is the main clinical teaching facility for the University of Jaffna’s Faculty of Medicine. Due to war though the gradual progression towards world class health care was barred the JTH was able to acquire some basic equipment...

It has been estimated that the number of blind in Sri Lanka ranges from nearly 93,000 to approximately 150,000 individuals. The major causes of blindness include cataract (responsible for up to 70%), refractive error, and glaucoma. The majority of Sri Lankans have never had an eye examination for a variety of reasons including the expense and a lack of access to care. A team of researchers conducted two studies examining cataract rates in rural Sri Lankan villages in 2009 and...

MNT is determined to do its best to minimise the impact of poverty and hardship in taking away the aspirations of students to obtain higher education; especially after struggled through numerous difficulties and challenges. Every year, over 100 students are supported by this project and since 2002 more than 1,000 students have benefitted from this initiative. Monthly Rs. 5, 000 per month is provided to students from Jaffna and Eastern University. Among the Jaffna University students, 21 students are supported by...

Every five seconds, someone, somewhere in the world goes blind. Every minute, one more child goes blind – ninety per cent of blind children don’t attend schools. A year 2000 study examined blind school children in multiple countries and reported the prevalence of severe visual loss in Sri Lankan students at 33.2%. This was the highest prevalence in the countries studied. The deaf and blindness goes beyond health – it affects the livelihoods of individuals and the economic well-being of...

As part of MNT’s wish to help these special children attain autonomy and control over their lives, the trust has donated hearing aids to the cost of Rs. 2 million. A total of 80 students at Nuffield School for the deaf and blind have benefitted by this project. ...

Whilst the civil strife ended some time ago, its impact continues to show its metaphorical scars in many different ways. Another direct impact of the war was the westernization of younger family members and the disintegration of the once customary extended family system. As a consequence, many of today’s elders are destitute and are experiencing poor health and living in difficult and solitary conditions. As reported in prior years, social support and security of the elders remain important issues in need...

Abled children The Sivapoomi School for the differently abled children (”School”) was established in 2004, to support and train differently abled children in the local community to face and succeed in life with dignity and as individual. Sri Lankan society is arguably yet to come to terms with an accept-able, tolerant, nurturing and accommodating attitude towards such individuals. As such, the establishment of the School itself was the begin-Ning of an educational and acceptance process; not only for the children...

The Mahadeva Ashram (the ”Ashram”) currently accommodates 402 children(229 girls and 173 boys) as at 31 March 2015 and 324 children (165 girls, 159boys) as at 31 March 2014 , all aged between 18 months to 20 years. Each of these children was severely affected by war, and many belonged to house-holds, which had lost their primary breadwinner. The Ashram employs 46staff to look after the children and to provide the necessary administrative support. Additional classes are provided after school...