CEYLON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND

A Guiding Light for the Blind of Sri Lanka

The Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind (CSDB) has been serving Sri Lanka’s visually impaired children since 1912. While the school has touched the lives of countless students, it has recently struggled to find teachers with the highly specialized skills necessary to teach English as a Second Language to visually impaired children.

In 2024, AKP partnered with CSDB to secure the services of a qualified English drama teacher to instruct a select group of 35 visually impaired students in grades 9-11 at the CSDB’s School for the Blind, Ratmalana. The teacher, Ms. Minha, quickly earned the students’ trust, immersing them in English language learning through the fun and engaging genre of drama. After taking Ms. Minha’s class, two of her students were selected for the finals of the International Institute of Music, Speech and Drama (IIMSD) competitions in June 2025 — a shining testament to the children’s determination and the success of the program.

“The inclusion of spoken English through drama was an initiative that proved to be an invaluable resource for our blind students. Mastery of spoken English is essential for their studies, especially as they work toward their O Level exam, thus enabling them to excel in their higher studies and articulate their knowledge with confidence.”
— Nelumnika Perera; Principal; School for the Blind, Ratmalana

Moving forward, AKP will continue to partner with CSDB to build out the English language program and further develop the school’s infrastructure — ensuring the next generation will have a better chance at a brighter future.