Global pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has committed Rs 39 million to a new project to empower persons with disabilities in southern Sri Lanka.

The project will be planned and executed over three years by the Leonard Cheshire Disability Resource Centre (LCDRC) in partnership with GSK Pharmaceuticals Sri Lanka, the country’s leading pharmaceuticals and vaccines company. This is the first project involving GSK and the Leonard Cheshire Disability in Sri Lanka.

The project is intended to help about 700 persons with disabilities living in the divisional secretariat of Habaraduwa in the Galle District by promoting several key aspects. These include vital health and rehabilitation programmes that meet a wide range of needs of people with disabilities to reduce the impact of disability; innovative community based services that support persons with disabilities to live inter-dependent lives with others; disabled children’s right to a meaningful education; and sustainable livelihoods programmes that focus on economic empowerment and self reliance.