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Landmark court ruling orders disability-friendly upgrades at railway stations from Vavuniya to Mahawa
By Upali Ananda - Anuradhapura
The Anuradhapura High Court yesterday has issued a landmark ruling requiring the renovation of railway stations between Vavuniya and Mahawa to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. The decision comes after a petition highlighted the failure to comply with accessibility regulations during recent station upgrades.
The petition, filed by Ms. N.G. Kamalawathi, President of the Association of Women with Disabilities, named the Minister of Transport, the Ministry Secretary, and the Railway Commissioner as respondents. The court found that the respondents had violated the rights of disabled passengers under the 1996 Disabilities Rights Protection Act (No. 28) by failing to implement the provisions of Access Order No. 01 of 2006.
As part of the ruling, the government was ordered to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the petitioner. The court also directed that the railway stations be upgraded to meet accessibility standards and that annual funding for the Railway Department prioritize these renovations.
Additionally, the Attorney General’s Department was instructed to coordinate with the relevant officials to submit a detailed action plan to the court for implementing the upgrades.
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