A monthly multidisciplinary clinic was established at Lady Ridgeway Hospital in May 2026 to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for children with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs).

One of the major challenges faced by these children is access to genetic diagnosis. Genetic diagnostic facilities are not available free of charge, and the average cost of whole-exome sequencing is around LKR 100,000, which is beyond the monthly income of many families. As a result, many children with IMDs do not receive a confirmatory genetic diagnosis. This can lead to both undertreatment and inappropriate treatment.

To help address this gap, Dr Kalana Jayawardana, a Sri Lankan expatriate living in Oregon, USA, through his Little Fighters Foundation, has generously supported genetic testing for children attending the metabolic clinic.

To date, the foundation has supported genetic testing for a minimum of three children per month, and this support is expected to continue in the future. Over the past three months, the fund has contributed to the genetic diagnosis of 11 children with suspected inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) from the various parts of the country.

The parents of children who have received confirmatory diagnoses have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Dr Kalana Jayawardana for this invaluable support.

Metabolic Support Sri Lanka would also like to sincerely thank Dr Jayawardana and the Little Fighters Foundation for their generous contribution towards improving access to genetic diagnosis and helping to shape a better future for children living with IMDs in Sri Lanka.