Differently abled to contest in two districts

7 August 2015 04:37 am - 1 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The biggest minority comprising of people with restricted ability, who would be re-writing political history in Sri Lanka by becoming the first such persons to contest a Parliamentary Election, yesterday slammed all political parties for neglecting them and for their failure to give them their due place in the society.

One of the candidates, Ajith C. Perera, who is the Chief Executive of 'Idiriya', an organization dedicated to helping differently abled persons, explained that they had decided to contest as the Independent Group 12 from the Colombo District and Independent Group 15 from the Gampaha District, on their own as none of the other political parties had paid attention to the needs of the people that they represent who could be considered the country’s biggest minority which accounts for 20 per cent of the country’s total population.

“We could not team up with Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who wants to rise up again and start afresh or Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who has promised to build a new country within 60 months of coming to power,” he said.

Dr. Perera, who is also a candidate at this year's election, said not even the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who pledged to build a just society, had paid attention to the needs of the differently abled.

Prasanna Kuruppu, another candidate contesting the polls, said President Maithripala Sirisena had failed to live up to his promise to address the issues of preserving the rights of people with restricted abilities by introducing the necessary facilities for them to live normal lives.

The group said the Disabled Rights Bill, which was drafted back in 1997, was yet to get off the ground while Sri Lanka had earned the reputation of being the only country that had not ratified the UN Disabled Charter, which the country signed in 2007. (Yohan Perera and Sarah Muiz)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 1

Perumal Friday, 07 August 2015 05:16 PM

As if the divisions we have in our society are not enough, they want to create a new division. The abled are able to look after the interests of differently-abled.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Differently abled to contest in two districts

Comments - 1

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

Uma Oya Development Project inaugurated

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES