At present the SLFVH membership stands at approximately 3000 persons from all walks of life, races and religions. The activities of the Federation are administered by an Executive Committee. The activities in the provinces are co-ordinated through a network of district branches.

In the structure of the Federation the district branches play a major role. The eight district branches have demonstrated significant improvements in the recent years. In the forefront are the Gampaha, Galle, Kurunegala and Kandy branches.

A unique feature of the SLFVH is that the entirety of its membership is visually handicapped, thus making it a self-help organisation. “Nothing about us without us” is a principle strongly advocated by the SLFVH. Amongst the services provided to the membership are:

• Granting scholarship to blind students and children of visually handicapped parents, providing Braille Books, Slate, Typewriters, and other Braille equipment
• Granting financial assistance for repairs and renovations to houses; providing sanitation and clean drinking water
• Assistance to establish self-employment projects
• Securing open employment opportunities
• Improving Braille literacy
• Liaising with State, Private Sector, and Civil Societies to obtain various facilities for members
• Operating a Handloom textile weaving centre
• Operating a death assistance scheme for members and their dependants
• Granting finances for medical treatment and general welfare
• Coordinating and managing a group of visually handicapped musicians and a choir to perform at various functions and providing training to prospective musicians
• Maintain a special home for the elderly blind, the “Sarana” Home
• Manufacturing envelopes and medical covers
• Providing paper for manufacture of paper bags by individual members
• Training computer, telephone and computerised Braille printer operators

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Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped
No 74 Church Street,
Colombo 02,
Sri Lanka.