In 1987 through the efforts of Professor Rezvi Sheriff and Mr. Vijaya Ransi the first kidney society in Sri Lanka was established under the name “Sri Lanka Kidney Patient’s Association of Sri Lanka”. It was created for the purpose of assisting the kidney patients to meet their social and economic needs. The efforts taken by these two gentlemen need to be appreciated, for they faced many hardships and obstacles during this process. The year 1985 was an important milestone for kidney related health in Sri Lanka for this is when the first kidney transplant was conducted in the island by Prof. Rezvi Sheriff, Prof. A. H. Sherifdeen and Prof. Jerry Jayasekara.
However, over the years the “Sri Lanka Kidney Patient’s Association” became inactive until 5th of June in 2011 when it was reestablished under the name “Samastha Lanka Kidney Patient’s Association”.
Dr Sanjaya Heiyantuduwa played a key role in the reestablishment of this association, while Senior Professor Rezvi Sheriff, Professor Mandika Wijerathne, Dr.Rezni Cassim, Dr. Arjuna Marasinghe, Mr. Wijaya Ransi, Mr. R. A. Nimal,Mr. Mr. Hemantha Roshan, Mr. Athula Chandana Bandara, and Mrs. Chamila Crishanthi, S.M.N. Thushantha, Janaka Botheju, K.R. Karunathilaka provided valuable support for this effort.
This association is registered under the Ministry of Defence bearing the numbers MOD/NGO/1928 and L-145205(Volountary Social Service Organization). The office bearers and the members of this association consist of kidney patients, recipients of donated kidneys and kidney donors who volunteer their time and effort on behalf of easing the life of kidney patients. With the great effort of Samastha Lanka Kidney Patients’ Association members, the association has now been converted to charity, under No.24, Charitable Institution approved under 5th schedule of Inland Revenue 1A, Gazette No. 2288/08.