In a country paper prepared by Ms. Sita Rajapaksa, Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and presented at the Regional Workshop for the Monitoring the Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Right-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific held in October 2004, Bangkok, Thailand several initiatives were presented on the progress of Sri Lanka in implementing the Biwako Millennium Framework. The following are excerpts from Ms. Rajapaksa's presentation:
The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action emphasizes a barrier-free and rights based society for persons with disabilities. Sri Lanka is a developing country with a population of about 18 million, out of which around 1 million is estimated to be having some form of disability either physical, mental or both. This does not mean that each and every disabled person is in need of rehabilitation services. According to the experience and knowledge gathered through Community Based Rehabilitation Programme (CBR) it has been found that at least 4% of the total population of the country falls under the category of the disabled who need immediate rehabilitation measures. They are unable to stand on their own, unless they receive effective support either through the Government or the Non-Governmental, self-help organizations.
The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare acknowledges the situation of women in general and handicapped or disabled women who invariably are categorized as poor. Several programs had been conducted for the self-employment training and leadership training needed for grown up disabled females. Women's Development Center, a voluntary organization in the Central Province plays a role of coordinator of the CBR network in South East Asia. Disabled women have representation in the National Council for the Disabled.
The Ministry of Education conducts special education classes for disabled children and trains them to be absorbed into formal education stream. A Special Education Committee comprising relevant line Ministries, Departments and NGOs ensure that children will be able to complete a full course of primary education. The Children's Secretariat established under the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare is working towards community based early intervention services for all infants and young children (0-5 years).
The Health Ministry has commenced a Program to train audiologists, to be appointed at government hospitals. The first of 12 audiologists have completed a 6 month training course. There are currently 16 special schools and 150 special schools for hearing impaired children throughout Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Social Welfare has taken action to implement publicity and awareness about sign language and the Department has taken action to develop sign language through a team of experts to teach sign language.
A Disability Studies Unit has been established at the University of Kelaniya however, no considerable expansion of those educational research programs has taken place.
The Medical Faculty of the Colombo Campus has shown an increasing interest in Community Based Rehabilitation activities and is organizing a program for final year medical students with the help of the Ministries of Social Welfare, Health and Non-governmental Organizations in this field. In addition, curriculum has been developed for such students on community medicine. However these activities need further improvement.
Vocational training is being provided to PWDs both by the government and NGOs. Department of Social Services conducts and manages vocational training in 26 trades at five centers, while the Ministry of Health is handling the training center with medical facilities at the Agama Rehabilitation Hospital.
The Government policy is to allocate at least 3% of the job opportunities in the public sector for persons with disabilities. For instance the Ministry of Public Administration has already allocated 3% of the clerical jobs in the government clerical service for PWDs. Since a majority of disabled children don't reach higher education levels, it is necessary to promote their vocational skills. Generally these training courses vary from 3 months to two years and, since these training courses are far behind the changing labor market, the Ministry has taken action to turn towards developing the training programs to suit the individual needs and disabilities which takes into the account the nature of the disability as well as the availability of raw materials and facilities in their own community. Accordingly FAO has agreed to come forward and introduce an agricultural vocational training programmed for the disabled. It is scheduled to start the project on pilot basis by the end of this year. The location has been identified and the preliminary arrangements are in process.
The Department of Social Services together with NGOs like the EFC have initiated a job placement service in the year 2003, in collaboration with the private sector entrepreneurs.
Parliament of Sri Lanka passed the amended legislation on plans and guidelines on accessibility to built environment in the year 2003.
Steps have been taken to initiate the accessible facilities in the public places like Divisional Secretariats and District Secretariats where the disabled people mostly go for their requirements. The National Secretariat has provided the funding for Persons with Disabilities. Further it has been planned to construct accessibility facilities at the newly planned coordinating and resource finding centers established at the Divisional Secretariats. First one of these kinds was constructed at the District Secretariat at Kalahari in 2003. The accessibility to public places, buildings, roads, transport system and communication facilities need to be planned and initiated under a long-term development programmed for the whole country.
Codes and guidelines on wheel chairs have been prepared by a Committee consisting of the Sri Lanka Standards Bureau, National Engineering and Research Institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology which tests the productions against the approved standards.
Access to the information and communication is a basic human right. Sri Lanka has taken action to introduce sign language, Braille, finger Braille etc. for the benefit of PWDs. However, due to the lack of human resources and capital a well-planned information system is not available for the majority of PWDs. Access of the visual and hearing-impaired persons into the information like Internet and e-mail is also very limited.
People with Disabilities are doubly handicapped due to their poverty. They need protection, employment, shelter, medicine and nutrition etc. Sri Lanka is a welfare state and grant public assistance, Samurdhi grants and other charities for the poor. Usually the poor disabled persons could apply for these grants. However, such grants are barely sufficient for their maintenance.
The National Secretariat for Person with Disabilities initiated the following special assistance programs:
The National Plan of Action has been prepared on the guidelines of BMF and the draft is now under consideration.
