First ever braille newspaper by Wijeya

18 November 2011 07:59 am

Wijeya Newspapers Ltd made history today when it launched the first brail newspaper in Sri Lanka for the blind ‘Wijeya Braille’.

The newspaper which was launched at the Ratmalana Deaf and Blind school will be out every Friday of the week. The Deaf and Blind school’s Principal Sandya Kodduruarachchi  speaking at the launch said the students at the school did not have adequate brail books and that ‘Wijeya Braille’ will develop the knowledge of blind children in the country.

“To increase knowledge and to and to develop oneself it is necessary to read. With the development of information technology it is vital for a such a newspaper. The constitution states that it is a fundamental right to read and write. Despite this the blind were denied of this right but now we have these opportunists as well,” Kodduruarachchi said.

A blind teacher at the school, Dammika Priyadarshani said that though there is vast development in access to information, such opportunities have been very limited to the blind. “We are thankful for this newspaper as it gives us the chance to develop further,” she said.

“They don’t need our sympathy they need our support to better their lives,” Wijeya Newspapers Director Lal Jayawardene speaking about the visually impaired.

National Institute of Education Media Education Project Director Bandula Dayaratne said that a vast majority of Sri Lankans do not have any knowledge on the need to provide more services to the blind and that there is limited access to information in the country for the blind. “The new braille newspaper will further advance their knowledge and give them access to better opportunities,” he said. ( By Olindhi Jayasundere)