Habaraduwa, Sri Lanka
Ministry profile
The ocean banks of southern Sri Lanka appear like a tourist haven to most. But don’t be fooled. Beyond the beautiful beaches and rolling tides, health care issues are plentiful.
Dr. Avindra Jayawardene founded the Agape Community Health Care Center in 2016 to assist with Habaraduwa’s rampant problems such as limited affordable health care, drug addiction, unemployment, sexual abuse and immorality.
Jayawardene’s partnership with the Luke Society began in 2018. Since then, he has seen nearly 600 patients per month, in addition to holding free health education sessions, counseling and care to low-income individuals in Habaraduwa. He also receives invitations to preach in area churches.
His ministry vision includes plans to construct a health and community center. The community center would include rooms for counseling patients and a safe-space library where children can read and study free from the tensions of home life.
Director
Dr. Avindra Jayawardene
Director profile
Dr. Avindra Jayawardene has a heart for the most impoverished people in his region. Leaving his own practice and a position at the local university, Jayawardene has followed the call into mission work, taking on personal sacrifice to be a blessing to the people of Habaraduwa.
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Sri Lanka Facts
Population: 22.5 million
Size: 65,610 sq. km, or slightly larger than West Virginia.
Capital: Colombo
Borders: Located of the southern tip of India; Indian Ocean to the south; Bay of Bengal to the east.
Religious groups: Buddhist, 70.2%; Hindu, 12.6%; Muslim, 9.7%; Christian, 1.3%
Primary language: Sinhalese
Literacy (age 15+): 91.9%
Physician density: 0.96 doctors per 1,000 people.
Population below international poverty line: 6.7%
Life expectancy: 77.1 years
Infant mortality rate: 8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Major exports: Textiles and apparel, tea and spices, rubber, precious stones, coconut, fish
Climate: Tropical
Terrain: Mostly coastal lowlands; flat to rolling plains; mountains in south-central interior