Sri Lanka

As humanitarian crises have lifted in Sri Lanka, national development has shifted its focus toward building a strong economic core in the private sector and diversifying rural livelihoods.  Positive demographic transition has accompanied the drive toward middle-income country status but now poses some challenges regarding aged dependency.

Despite Sri Lanka’s remarkable social progress in literacy, life expectancy and infant mortality, success in generating economic growth has somewhat lagged behind. Underemployment and underachievement has arisen in rural areas where opportunities for higher education and career advancement in modern industries are few

As in most developing nations, Sri Lankan society carries a certain degree of stigma toward the disabled, especially those with a congenital impediment or missing limb(s).  In spite of free public health services, the provision of prosthesis and orthotics for disadvantaged individuals does not attract any government funding but is instead heavily reliant on the non-profit sector.