“Our urgent need is ‘Raising our voice for us’ in parliament” - Ajith C. S. Perera

12 August 2015 07:22 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Disability Rights Activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera will contest the forthcoming general elections from the Colombo District as an independent candidate representing the country’s biggest minority constituting of “People with Restricted Ability”.Excerpts of his interview with Dailymirror :

Why did you decide to contest at the forthcoming general elections from an independent group?
Our decision to contest at the upcoming general elections as an independent group was triggered by several factors. First and foremost among them was the politicians’ failure to recognise individuals representing the country’s biggest minority. This refers to “People with Restricted Ability” who form nearly twenty per cent of the country’s population as recognised by the Supreme Court. Despite being academically and professionally qualified with experience, honesty and integrity none of us was recognised as an activist with restricted ability that could be given an opportunity to fill even the 29th place in the national list. We feel it is a true reflection of the lack of concern by all politicians, when any citizen of this country through accident, debilitating incidences or ageing finds their abilities restricted.

Secondly we have noticed how over the past twenty years political parties have belittled our cries for empowerment. Instead they continue to make us reluctant dependants on charity and social welfare. Thirdly if you take in a day today basis, in the field of employment, education, recreation, health and shopping no longer do we enjoy equal opportunities and are often marginalised from society. Our continual efforts to enjoy the rights as equal citizens have fallen on deaf ears of the Former President, the current Prime Minister, the bell boys and even the President’s Good Governance. Equal opportunity to live with dignity regardless of the degree of ability should be the visible hallmark of Good Governance as emphasised by the President and also the movement branding themselves as “Sadharana Samajayak”.

Another main reason that triggered us to contest at the forthcoming general elections was the continual failure by all politicians who have ruled the country including those who are aiming to rule the country such as the JVP to recognise the importance of our social integration and productive contributions that we could still make towards a sustainable national economy and to win the deciding votes. Also when heroic soldiers retire they simultaneously lose their care giver. Life in the civil society brings them new sets of problems which are yet to be recognised and resolved. This is something that needs to be focused upon.

The final reason for our entry into the contest is as follows. In general, the politicians and decision makers at the top maintain a stance similar to the “Dog in Foundry” syndrome for what happened over the past twenty years and for whatever will be in store for a brighter prospect in future. They have hardly shown genuine interest to identify the key issues and root causes that affect the country’s biggest minority.

In case you were elected to Parliament, what are the key areas that you would focus and work on?
Firstly, I will not engage in party politics. Our immediate goal is to have through public servants in the Parliament who would understand the key priorities of this biggest minority group representing twenty per cent of the population and make clear “our voices” enabling us to enjoy our rights as equal citizens. We also wish to promote equal opportunities for everyone to participate in all spheres of lives through active social integration in terms of education, employment, recreation and health.

At least four per cent of employment opportunities both in the government and private sector shall be made available based on merit for people with restricted ability. Allocation of five per cent of the money for education will be utilised for improving inclusive education and allocation of five per cent for health sector shall be utilised to improve accessibility and usability of facilities including lavatory facilities in hospitals. The Supreme Court ruling of 2011 concerning the accessibility to all public buildings will be enforced and implemented.

''As I said before, over the past twenty years, all political parties have belittled our cries for empowerment recognising our innate potential. ''

If you get elected to Parliament, what makes you to believe that you will be able to implement the measures necessary to achieve the above mentioned goals?
For over twelve years I was employed as a Senior Manager at two multinational companies. For seventeen years I was a cricket umpire finally getting national recognition as a test match panel umpire in 1992. I have undergone numerous training programmes on effective communication, discussion making, goal setting and implementing remedial action. In addition I am backed by academic and professional qualification both locally and overseas.

As the founder of “IDIRIYA”, a voluntary organisation for the promotion of the rights of the disabled, I possess over eighteen years of firsthand knowledge and thorough understanding of all needs and priorities of a person who finds his or her ability to attend to daily life restricted; be it physically or sensorily. I have championed as the pioneer campaigner in this country to promote accessibility at public buildings as a means of improving the quality and dignity of the country’s biggest minority and also thereby prevent colossal waste of resources economically and socially that plague the country in unwanted misery. For sustainable national development of the country, we need to arrest the waste of human potential, minimise unneeded dependency and network everyone as equal partners in national development.

QWho else will be contesting alongside you at the election fray?
From the Independent Group No. 12, I will be contesting from the Colombo district bearing the Desktop Computer symbol. Apart from myself, Founder of Sri Lanka National Federation of Visually Handicapped W. M. D. Ratnasekara, Brian Susantha who holds a Diploma in Linguistics from the Hong Kong Chinese University, Priyantha Pieris and Hirantha Kanishka will also contest from the Colombo District.

QPolitical corruption is nothing new in the Sri Lankan political history nor has it been eliminated completely. What kind of opinion do you hold in this regard?
As mentioned earlier, our aim is to remain no part of any political party but to remain a public servant in the Parliament focusing on the biggest minority group of the country. However as for corruption, I believe that corruption in any form is a social disease and a big evil.

''Another main reason that triggered us to contest at the forthcoming general elections was the continual failure by all politicians who have ruled the country including those who are aiming to rule the country such as the JVP''

What type of real support have you received from the main political parties of the past years? What support do you expect from them in the near future?
As I said before, over the past twenty years, all political parties have belittled our cries for empowerment recognising our innate potential. The one and only concern (which hardly means nothing significant for our future) had been making us to continue to depend on charity and social welfare
Name any politician who has raised the voice in parliament over the past two decades for and on behalf of this near 20% of the population that forms the Biggest Minority Group enabling us to “Enjoy our Rights to live as Equal Citizens”. We had high hopes that the elected politicians from several major parties with whom we had worked closely, would take decisions on several key issues that concerns the quality of life of this near Four (4) Million people – People with Restricted Ability.

Regrettably this has not happened even after 20 years. As a result we remain often marginalised and deprived of equal opportunities concerning gainful employment, education, health, recreation and travel. This is also one key reason that had triggered our entry to contest.

But do you think this situation will change and if so, what support could you expect from them in the near future?
Let me evaluate the present with an open honest unbiased mind. Look at their manifestos and what they have been talking to date. They all have remained resembling ‘The Dog in the Foundry’ Syndrome when it comes to the biggest minority of people. Rev. Madhuluwawe Thera whom we respect highly, promotes a just society talks of a ‘Samata Pivithuru Hetak’. Mr. Gammanpila promotes ‘Pivithuru Hela Urumaya’. Mr. Viyangoda represents ‘Purawesi Peramuna’.
The way a country and its leaders actually treats its population with restricted ability especially when it forms the biggest minority, is a true reflection of their attitudes towards the countrymen. It is a sure test and a far more telling indicator of society’s development than GDP. Two prerequisites for a formidable and sustainable National economy are (a) Arresting the colossal waste of human potential and (b) Minimising unwanted dependants. How can there be a JUST SOCIETY when the biggest minority enjoys no justice of their rights to live as equal citizens. We are also a big part of the PURAWESIYO but Puravasi Peramuna continues to overlook us.

Our tomorrow is NOT at all clean and just any better (PIVITHURU) than yesterday – not secured by any one of them who fail even to recognise us as a force that will win deciding votes. Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled the country for nearly a decade. His secretaries before and even now, had closed doors for us even to get an appointment to meet the KING. Then and even to-date, he fails to realise this biggest minority. We will remain ‘kept flat on floor’ unable to rise with him.

Prime Minister Ranil talks of a NEW Sri Lanka in 60 months but even in that new land, he has no plans to mobilise this big asset and empower our innate potential towards improving quality of life. In fact Malik-Kabir committee of him failed inclusion of written submissions in his ‘pancha prathipathi which King Lichchavis’ with a lion’s heart would have never thrown out.

Those who have the wound only, know where exactly the pain comes. Unless you open doors to talk with those who matter most and recognise the actual needs and priorities of this biggest minority, there cannot be a secured better tomorrow for us.

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“Our urgent need is ‘Raising our voice for us’ in parliament” - Ajith C. S. Perera

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