Make-A-Wish® International Celebrates World Wish Day With the Launch of Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka

Make-A-Wish^® Sri Lanka has celebrated its official launch as a Licensed Territory of Make-A-Wish International. The launch coincided with World Wish Day, April 29th, a global day of celebrations marking the anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish 45 years ago. As a service administered by the Indira Cancer Trust, Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka aims to bring joy and positivity to children facing critical illness by granting wishes that inspire hope, strength, and resilience.

“We are excited to welcome Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka to our global family this World Wish Day, and to partner with Indira Cancer Trust to expand our presence in Asia,” said Luciano Manzo, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish International. “Each new territory allows us to reach even more children who are in need of the transformative power of a wish. This launch is a testament to the incredible dedication of local volunteers, donors, and partners who believe in the impact of a wish.”

“We believe that wishes can be powerful medicine. In granting a wish, we also help foster the belief that anything is possible,” said Dr Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake, Chairperson and trustee of Indira Cancer Trust. “The launch of Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka is a significant milestone for us, and we are excited to collaborate with dedicated volunteers, local communities, and healthcare professionals to fulfill wishes that will leave a lasting impact on the lives of these courageous children.”

By integrating Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka as a vital service under the Indira Cancer Trust, the organization aims to create a comprehensive model of care that addresses the medical, emotional, and psychological needs of children facing cancer. The launch event took place at the offices of Indira Cancer Trust and featured the inspiring stories of Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka’s first wish children, including 13-year-old Rasindu whose wish was to meet his favourite singer, Amisha Minol. Amisha’s music has been a source of comfort and inspiration for Rasindu during his treatment for cancer, and so meeting his idol was an incredibly powerful moment for him, creating evident joy, lasting happy memories and hope for the future.

Make-A-Wish International is now present in nearly 50 countries around the world. World Wish Day, celebrated each April 29, pays tribute to the original ‘WishMakers’ who granted 7-year-old Chris Greicius’ wish to be a police officer in 1980. This event sparked the global wish-granting movement, resulting in over 615,000 life-changing wishes granted for children with critical illnesses around the world to date. The charity is appealing for more people to join their mission and become WishMakers by donating, fundraising, or supporting the organization in other ways.

Celebrations around the world include:

• Make-A-Wish India celebrates their 30th anniversary, during which time they have granted more than 95,000 wishes across the country
• Make-A-Wish Canada is celebrating 40,000 wishes granted
• ‘Wish Walks’ take place in Lisbon, Athens and 13 other locations across Greece
• Make-A-Wish Mexico held their annual Corre por sus Deseos race, and Make-A-Wish supporters are participating in the Istanbul and Milano marathons
• Buildings around the world will ‘Light Up Blue’ for World Wish Day, including the CN Tower in Toronto, government buildings in Rome and Milan, Tel Aviv train station, the Geneva Fountain and Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Find out more about Make-A-Wish International at worldwish.org and about Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka at makeawishsrilanka.org