‘Samma Ditthi’ eye dansala

Born as a king named Sikhi in his previous life, Lord Buddha donated his eyes to a beggar. Likewise, this year, Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees were given the opportunity to do the same on the holy day of Poson Poya; the day Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka.  

People had the opportunity to register to donate their eyes and body tissues at the ‘Samma Ditthi’ eye dansala, organised by the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society together with Derana Media.

In contrast to a traditional ‘Dansala’, where people would have the opportunity to receive something, they had the chance to give away something instead; thereby gaining the greatest ‘Kusal’, which, according to Buddhism, is the act of donating your body parts. A large number of devotees gathered around the ‘Samma Ditthi’ eye dansala, located at the ‘Sanda Hiru Saaya’ Anuradhapura on 18 and 19 June and were in awe of the innovative idea. The creative agency in charge of the idea, Sarva Integrated, aptly titled the event as ‘See good. Donate’.

In spite of the great demand for eye cornea all over the world, the supply is quite poor. Sri Lanka has been the main eye cornea supplier to the world. The reason for this is the wide belief in the Buddhist community that doing good in this birth will be rewarded with something better in the next, as reported by the BBC. This means, if you donate your eyes during this lifetime, you will be rewarded with better vision in your next.

Since Doctor Hudson Silva started the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society in 1961, it is noted that one out of five people have registered to donate their eyes and body tissues, and the number has been on the rise since. In 1964, the first eye cornea was exported to Singapore, and since then Sri Lanka has exported eye cornea to over 50 countries. It is said that the late former President of Sri Lanka J.R. Jayawardena was also an eye donor.