Through the “Inclusive health” project, France supports sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka.
The “Inclusive Health” project was officially launched on 28 July 2026 following the signing of an agreement between His Excellency Rémi Lambert, Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka, and Dr Ruchitha Perera, Executive Director of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL).
With €520,000 in funding from the French Embassy, the two-year project, to be implemented from 2026 to 2028 and coordinated by the FPASL, aims to improve access to inclusive and adapted sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities, particularly women and young people. It will also strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.
The “Inclusive Health” project builds directly on the experience of the previous French-funded “Collective Action Against Period Poverty” (CAAPP) project, implemented from 2023 to 2025 with the FPASL. While CAAPP contributed to improving access to menstrual hygiene products, sanitary infrastructure and awareness around menstruation, its implementation highlighted insufficient attention to the specific needs of persons with disabilities in relation to sexual and reproductive health.
In Sri Lanka, persons with disabilities continue to face significant physical, informational and institutional barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health, family planning and support services in cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Women and girls with disabilities are particularly exposed to such violence and face additional obstacles in reporting abuse and accessing support. The new project therefore places inclusiveness at the heart of its approach, while building on the partnerships and lessons developed through CAAPP.
The project reflects France’s commitment to feminist diplomacy, which places gender equality at the heart of its international cooperation, while advancing France’s broader priorities on human rights, inclusion and the fight against discrimination. It represents a continuation of France’s support to Sri Lankan civil society and of its previous initiatives promoting women’s rights, gender equality and access to essential services.
The project will translate these commitments into concrete actions on the ground. It will provide targeted training for health professionals, teachers, government officials and civil society organisations, improve the accessibility of health facilities, bring essential services closer to communities, and support awareness-raising and evidence-based policy advocacy.