Newspaper correspondents briefed on disabled

B.W. EHELIYAGODA, Kegalle special correspondent

A one-day workshop was held for Kegalle district correspondents of all newspapers at the Kegalle District Secretariat Auditorium recently to educate them on the “Community Based Rehabilitation Programme” for the disabled.

This programme was conducted by a member and the Director of the National Association of the Disabled, Gihan Galekotuwa.

The Government and the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) have granted Rs. 21 million for the Community Based Programme to Rehabilitate the Disabled” in the country. This programme is sponsored by the Government and the NGOs headed by the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry to create a barrier free environment for persons with disabilities.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has granted Rs. 12 million while the NGOs have provided Rs. 9 million aid. These funds will be allocated for the welfare of the disabled throughout the districts. The funds will be utilized to provide accessibility facilities at public places and services for the persons with disabilities.

The aim of this programme is to change the social attitude towards the disabled making them useful citizens both to themselves and for the development of the country.

Sri Lanka brought the Disability rights act to protect the rights of the disabled and formulated a national policy for the well-being of all disabled.

Kegalle district has been allocated Rs. 530,000 while Ratnapura district has been provided with Rs. 825,000. This means that whole of Sabragamuwa Province has been allocated Rs. 1,355,000 for the Community Based rehabilitation Programme of the Disabled in Sabaragamuwa Province.

The disabled men and women were to be selected from all Grama Niladhari divisions and a training in some vocation to be provided to them depending on their mobility, capability and the capacity to understand.

The main aim of this programme is the protection of rights of the disabled.

The manner and mode of providing facilities allow access by disabled persons to public buildings, public places and common services will be looked into as the newspaper correspondents were convinced.