Ratmalana Audiology Centre celebrates 10 years of excellence

The Ratmalana Audiology Centre, which was gifted to the nation by Dialog Axiata Plc in May 2007, celebrated its tenth year anniversary as a centre of excellence in hearing and speech.  
The Ratmalana Audiology Centre (RAC) was initiated as collaboration between Dialog Axiata PLC and the Ratmalana School for the Deaf with the shared goal of creating a Centre of Excellence in hearing and speech therapy empowering, integrating and rehabilitating people of all ages with hearing and speech difficulties. The partnership laid the foundation in developing a vibrant, professional client-focused centre with a caring environment serving the 
wider community.

The centre provides free annual hearing tests and speech therapy services for the students of the Ratmalana School for the Deaf. The centre also provides free workshops for parents, teachers and matrons of the School for the Deaf and provides assistance to other schools for the deaf around the country. As a centre of excellence the RAC also provides placements for the clinical training programme for audiology offered at the University of Kelaniya.  

The RAC provides free neonatal screening tests for newborns   at government hospitals in its vicinity; mainly the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and Kethumathi Maternity Hospital in Panadura. Hearing tests can be obtained free of charge with due recommendation from a Government ENT doctor or Grama Niladhari confirming low-income status. The centre also provides hearing tests, high quality hearing aids, speech assessments and speech therapy services at affordable rates, which support the centre’s 
social mission.  

“Our experienced staff create a friendly atmosphere and provide   independent advice and therapy in hearing, speech, and language related issues,” Renuka Fonseka, Manager of the Ratmalana Audiology Centre, said.