HelpAge Sri Lanka

What HelpAge Sri Lanka does

HelpAge Sri Lanka is a government-approved charitable NGO founded in 1986 and headquartered at 102/2 Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo 05, dedicated to the welfare of senior citizens across Sri Lanka. Operating for 40 years, it functions as the local affiliate of the global HelpAge International network and delivers a portfolio of free services to elders: a six-storey HelpAge Eye Hospital that has performed more than 52,249 cataract surgeries and 2,016 IOL implant surgeries, two Mobile Medical Unit buses providing outreach across all 9 provinces, multiple Day Care Centres, an Ayurveda Clinic, and a Geriatric Training Centre. It also coordinates 2,013 Senior Citizen Committees at the grassroots level, has cumulatively served more than 500,000 elders, and distributes basic accessories such as spectacles, hearing aids, crutches, and walking sticks alongside an E-Cards programme.

The organisation is funded entirely through donations and grants — institutional support comes from partners including UNFPA, HelpAge Deutschland, JECO Foundation (Canada), and the broader HelpAge International network, supplemented by named individual and corporate fundraising campaigns (visible totals include Rs 1.8M, Rs 681K and Rs 118K for specific appeals) and donations of physical assets from council members. There is no paid customer base: all beneficiary services are free, with reference pricing such as Rs 25,000 per cataract surgery and Rs 150,000 per full-day mobile screening serving as donor-suggestion levels rather than fee schedules. Operations are governed by a council headed by President Deshamanya Bandula Thilakasiri (since mid-2024) and Treasurer Saman Hulangamuwa, with executive leadership held by Dr. Harsha Bandara (appointed Executive Director in February 2025) supported by 13 head office staff and 5 field coordinators.

Strategically, the organisation is in a phase of measured infrastructure refresh and partnership expansion: a new Moratuwa Day Care Centre opened in March 2025, multiple facilities are undergoing renovation, and institutional ties with WHO (WHS+ data collection, 2024) and JECO Foundation (cataract surgery funding, 2025) have been added to the existing international donor base. The underlying demand backdrop is structurally favourable — Sri Lanka's elderly share is projected to rise from 17.2% to 25% by 2041 — providing a long runway for service expansion, even as the organisation operates without any disclosed AI/ML, paid revenue model, or audited financials.

Name

HelpAge Sri Lanka

Legal name

HelpAge Sri Lanka

Website

https://helpagesl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HelpAge Sri Lanka is a 40-year-old Colombo-based charitable NGO, affiliated with HelpAge International, that delivers free medical, day-care, and welfare services to senior citizens across all 9 provinces via its eye hospital, mobile medical units, and 2,013 senior citizen committees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Elderly Welfare and Charitable Healthcare Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Eating & Feeding Assistance (HSABABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Elderly welfare services
• Charitable healthcare programs
• Mobile medical clinics
• Cataract surgery services
• Senior citizen care

Headquarters

HQ city

Boralesgamuwa

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors supporting elderly care programs including cataract surgeries, mobile medical units, and meal programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Collaborations with corporate partners for sustainable elder welfare projects and workplace giving programmes.
3. International Donor Funding: Funding from international organizations including HelpAge International, UNFPA, HelpAge Deutschland, and JECO Foundation Canada for specific programs.
4. E-Cards and Merchandise: Digital greeting cards and merchandise sales where proceeds support elder welfare programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HelpAge Sri Lanka is a charitable NGO providing free-of-charge elderly welfare services across Sri Lanka. Its core offerings include a six-storey Eye Hospital delivering free cataract surgeries, two Mobile Medical Unit buses conducting weekly medical camps, a Day Care Centre, an Ayurveda Clinic, home care services for daily living assistance, and distribution of disability and mobility equipment. All services are funded entirely by donations from individuals, corporate partners, and international donor agencies.

Product overview

HelpAge Sri Lanka is a charitable NGO operating a portfolio of elderly care services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include the Eye Hospital (providing free cataract surgeries), Mobile Medical Units (mobile clinics reaching elders nationwide), Day Center (daytime care and activities), Ayurvedic Center (traditional healing therapies), and Distribution of Disability Equipment. These are complemented by program categories covering Health & Medical, Community & Elder Care, Emergency & Humanitarian, Education & Awareness, Fundraising & Community Relations, Human Resources & Internal Events, and Special Projects. The organization also offers a Digital E-Card service for fundraising. All services are provided free of charge to needy senior citizens across Sri Lanka, funded through local and foreign donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HelpAge Eye Hospital

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,249+ free cataract surgeries completed at Eye Hospital
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• Age UKmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Supporting HelpAge Sri Lanka's 40th anniversary celebration and collaborative advocacy for elderly rights.
• Smart MediasupportingOthers · 1 January 2025Dr. Vijith Kannangara, Chairman of Smart Media, provides complimentary services for designing and printing of Annual Report.
• HelpAge Deutschland (HAD)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Capacity building programmes to strengthen Senior Citizens' Committees to promote active ageing. Project continuing into FY 2025/26.
• World Health Organization (WHO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborating on World Health Survey plus (WHS+) programme for island-wide evidence-based data collection on ageing population in partnership with Ministry of Health and University of Colombo.
• SHAPE Project (India)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Training programmes conducted through Strengthening Humanitarian Assessment and Participatory Empowerment project in collaboration with India.
• HelpAge International (HAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Founding partner and global network member. Inspired establishment of HelpAge Sri Lanka in 1986. Provides Global Emergency Fund support for disaster response and ongoing programmatic support including advocacy for elder rights.
• Ceylon Secretarial Services (Pvt) LimitedsupportingOthers · 1 January 1986Provides company secretarial services since establishment of HelpAge Sri Lanka in 1986.
• Wijeyeratne & CompanysupportingOthers · 1 January 1986External auditors providing trusted audit services since establishment of HelpAge Sri Lanka in 1986.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP: The largest US-based organization for older adults providing advocacy, healthcare, and community programs. Comparable as a leading global elder-advocacy and welfare organization with much broader resources and membership model.
• World Vision Lanka: Sri Lanka branch of the global humanitarian organization with active programs in child welfare, health, and elderly support. Comparable as a major international NGO operating in Sri Lanka with overlapping donor networks and community-based health programming.
• Age UK: The UK's largest charity for older people providing advice, healthcare, and advocacy. Comparable as a major elder-focused NGO with a much broader portfolio, currently supporting HelpAge Sri Lanka's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Regional players

• Sri Lanka Red Cross Society: National humanitarian organization operating health, disaster response, and community care programs across Sri Lanka. Comparable as a domestic NGO with overlapping humanitarian programming, healthcare delivery, and donor mobilization.
• Sarvodaya: Sri Lanka's largest community development NGO operating across multiple social causes including elderly welfare. Comparable as a domestic Sri Lankan NGO with overlapping grassroots mobilization and community-based service delivery, though broader in mission.
• Kurunegala Old Age Home Society: Sri Lankan NGO operating dedicated elderly care and shelter services. Comparable as a domestic elder welfare provider with similar beneficiary focus, though narrower in geographic and programmatic scope.

Direct peers

• Age International: UK-based international charity focused exclusively on older people in developing countries, working with HelpAge network members. Directly comparable as a dedicated elder-focused NGO operating in similar low-and-middle-income contexts.
• HelpAge Deutschland: German HelpAge affiliate funding capacity building for Senior Citizens' Committees in Sri Lanka. Directly comparable as a HelpAge network member with similar mission, donor base, and programmatic focus.
• HelpAge International: The global parent network and founding partner of HelpAge Sri Lanka since 1986, operating elder welfare programs across 80+ countries. Directly comparable as a leading international elder-care NGO with overlapping programmatic models and donor relationships.
• HelpAge India: A national HelpAge affiliate providing elderly healthcare, cataract surgeries, and养老 services across India. Comparable as a sister HelpAge network member with similar mission, beneficiary profile, and service delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helpage-sri-lanka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HelpAge Sri Lanka