JEDDAH, 19 October 2004 — A three-member Sri Lankan delegation, representing the Islamic Center for Physically Handicapped (ICPH) based in Doolmala, Thihariya, in the island state, is currently here seeking support for its various projects.
It held meetings with senior officials of the World Muslim League and the Organization of Islamic Conference in this connection. “We’ve had support from the two organizations in the past and expect similar assistance, N. Jiffry Haniffa, director of the ICPH, said here yesterday.
The delegation, which also met with officials of the Shoura Council in Riyadh, is seeking participation from local investors in a proposed income-generating building project for supporting the capital and day-to-day operations of the ICPH, he told Arab News at the Sri Lankan Consulate. The delegation, accompanied by Consul General A.M.J. Sadiq, includes T. Firoze Shamsudeen of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Ahmed Jameel, an official. It also had a meeting with Dr. Muhammad Hamoud Al-Turaiqi of the Islamic World Council on Disability and Rehabilitation in the capital.
The center, which Haniffa started 20 years ago with just five physically challenged students and a teacher, now has 225 children, including 50 girls, of five to 17 years old with 36 teachers. Every year, 25 of its inmates who pass out are given jobs in both the government and private sectors.
“We’ve a waiting list of 500 children and need to expand our infrastructure,” he said, adding that the center offers vocational and rehabilitation services to the physically challenged. Aside from physiotherapy, the center provides therapies to the children suffering from speech, hearing and visual problems.
The island’s federal government has been assisting the center by paying salaries of its teachers.
The center recently established a wing to take care of mentally challenged children. It currently has 15 such children, including eight boys, and 350 children are waiting for enrollment.
The delegation is also seeking to meet officials of the Islamic Development Bank, the consul general said, adding that he was hopeful of support from the Kingdom to the center’s activities, especially its income-generating venture to take care of the overheads.