Vimochana Illam was established in December, 2011 as a social service organization, with the help of a Canadian national and a leading social worker in Batticaloa District. At the time of its establishment, the vision was to educate the public in the district on the negative effects of alcohol consumption and to run a rehab center that would accommodate at least 12 inmates and educate them over through a 42 days program. It was subsequently registered with the department of social services, under the Parliament Act.

After its inception, the Vimochana Illam center played a central role in inspiring many families in the district who had been victimized by drug, alcohol abuse and consumption. The center also initiated projects which featured visitations to villages and conducting awareness programs on the effects of alcohol, especially among low income generating families. Accordingly, many addicts who required help to abstain from consumption of alcohol were identified, along with the devastating impacts of alcohol addiction, including severe hardships, poverty, violence and hopelessness.