 With the help of his wife Iranganie (née de Silva Kularatne), Silva established the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society in 1961.He pursued his campaign and succeeded in persuading the majority Buddhist population of Sri Lanka that the donation of eyes after death was a meritorious act.As the campaign gathered momentum, thousands signed up to donate their eyes, and the membership of the Eye Donation Society grew rapidly, with branch societies springing up throughout the country.