LONDON, UK: The award-winning Sri Lanka-born singer-songwriter, Nimal Mendis, has released a song for autism in London. This is the first time a South Asian songwriter has released a song on this topic.
 
There are an estimated 39,000 children with autism in Sri Lanka. Thousands there do not have access to education, health, specialist speech therapy or respite care.

The song for autism is titled: Open Every Door and a copy of the CD was  presented to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at in his office in the House of Commons in London on April 25. It is hoped that autism will be on the Prime Minister's Legacy Agenda when he leaves office in the summer of 2007. The presentation to the Prime Minister was made by the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.
 
A copy of Open Every Door was also presented to the influential British parliamentarian, Lee Scott, who is championing the cause of autism in the United Kingdom.

(Source: asiaradionews, May 1, 2007)