We Are...
The Association for the Intellectually Disabled – Sri Lanka (AIDSL) is a pioneering national organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Established by an Act of Parliament in 1971 and recognized as an approved charity, AIDSL works across the country through 230 life members and 59 affiliated institutions that share its vision. It is also a founder member of the Asian Federation on Intellectual Disabilities and part of the Disability Organizations Joint Front in Sri Lanka.
The Association is governed by an elected Executive Committee and supported by sub-committees that oversee finance, education, advocacy, project monitoring, and long-term initiatives. Beyond advocacy and capacity building, AIDSL organizes annual events such as concerts, sports meets, art competitions, and excursions to promote recreation, creativity, and social inclusion for persons with intellectual disabilities.
Headquartered in Dehiwala–Mt. Lavinia, the Association is now working toward relocating to a more spacious site to expand its services with modern facilities. To realize this goal, AIDSL welcomes support from international donors and well-wishers, ensuring its continued mission to empower and uplift the intellectually disabled community in Sri Lanka
Vision
A dignified place in society for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.
Mission
Committed to improving the lives of Intellectually Disabled people.
Intellectual Disabilities in Sri Lanka
Until the mid-20th century, awareness of intellectual disabilities in Sri Lanka was extremely limited. Many individuals were misclassified as mentally ill, stigmatized, or hidden away from society. Some were confined in mental hospitals or kept isolated at home, often without proper care or dignity.
A turning point came with the work of psychiatrist Dr. L.A. Senanayake, who recognized that persons with intellectual disabilities should be supported separately from those with mental illness, with compassion and care. Together with his daughter, Connie Welikala, he founded the Ceylon Association for the Mentally Retarded in 1969, which was later incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1970. This marked the beginning of organized advocacy and services for this marginalized group in Sri Lanka.
Today, the Association for the Intellectually Disabled – Sri Lanka (AIDSL) has grown to 237 life members and 60 affiliated institutions across the island, providing shelter, training, and care. The Association pioneered teacher and caregiver training programs, equipping them with skills to help individuals with intellectual disabilities live independent and dignified lives.
Beyond care and training, AIDSL also focuses on enrichment and inclusion through annual events and activities such as:
- Art competitions and talent shows
- Concerts of dance and drama (Sahan Eliya)
- Sports meets and cricket tournaments
- Devotional song recitals during Poson
- Excursions and recreational outings
- Annual Christmas celebrations
The Association also runs a day center and a residential home, conducts parent and staff training courses, and collaborates with international organizations to continually improve services. Through these efforts, AIDSL works to ensure that persons with intellectual disabilities are recognized, supported, and celebrated as valuable members of society.
AIDSL Celebrates 56 Years of Service
The Association for the Intellectually Disabled – Sri Lanka (AIDSL), established in 1969 and incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1971, proudly marked its 50th anniversary in 2019. To commemorate this milestone, the Association organized a series of events throughout the year to showcase its work and raise awareness of the rights and needs of persons with intellectual disabilities.
Historically, people with intellectual disabilities in Sri Lanka were among the most neglected groups in society. Until the mid-20th century, they were often mislabeled and confined without proper care or dignity. A shift began with the establishment of the Madiwela Home by a pioneering psychiatrist, which introduced a more humane approach. The founding of the Association in 1969 further strengthened these efforts, inspiring greater recognition, care, and advocacy.
By the 1990s, AIDSL’s initiatives helped influence state policy, leading to the recognition of intellectual disabilities as a distinct condition requiring dedicated support, aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Intellectually Disabled Persons. In 1995, legislation was introduced for the protection of persons with disabilities. While the law needed further strengthening, it laid the groundwork for forming the National Council for the Disabled and for policy reforms across the sector.
Despite progress, challenges remain. Census data in 2002 estimated only 75,000 persons with intellectual disabilities in Sri Lanka, though global prevalence rates suggest the true number may be closer to 650,000. This underscores the urgent need for continued advocacy, improved services, and inclusive policies.
For fifty years, AIDSL has been at the forefront of this mission—championing the dignity, rights, and quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities across the country.
Events and Activities
Support Our Mission
Your generous donations enable us to provide essential services and programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Every contribution helps us create a more inclusive and supportive community. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those we serve.
The Association does not receive any grant from the government for meeting the expenditure incurred by it in providing various services for the benefit of ID persons in the country, and conducting the annul activities described in the site. Currently, Association’s income is generated from several sources including an annual grant from a private Trust Fund, annual contributions from the corporate sector, annual interest from fixed deposits in commercial and savings banks, contributions from well-wishers and fund-raising activities conducted by the Association.
The income generated from these sources is barely sufficient to provide the various services and conduct Association’s activities which are presently done at a minimal level with, it is totally inadequate to provide acceptable remuneration and other benefits to its regular staff employed at its headquarters and also to expand and upgrade the available facilities. Hence, we kindly solicit donations from well-wishers enabling us to provide a better service to ID persons.