Opinion

Allow Largest Minority to be stakeholders in a new Sri Lanka

08 Sep 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

An open letter to the President, Prime Minister and all Leaders

On behalf of the Country’s Largest Minority
It was most encouraging to read the message to the nation by the re-elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, after a lengthy dialogue with President Sirisena.

We commend your vision to build a new Sri Lanka in the coming sixty months, founded on the values of good governance and democracy, social justice, equality and accountability in what you hope would be a promise-keeping and NOT just promise-making era.

In writing this we represent the largest minority of citizens of Sri Lanka (the physical and sensory-ability-restricted persons) - nearly 20% of the population.
We appeal to you to help us help you build the ‘new’ Sri Lanka - A better Sri Lanka that will deliver on the promise of ‘Equality’ and ‘Social Justice’.

Towards an inclusive (equal) society

Irrespective of our positions and possessions, ABILITY is an asset available only temporarily to all of us. None can continue with the same abilities at all times.

As such,world views and perceptions on what it means to be dis Abled have changed rapidly to focus on enhancing equally the quality of life for all people.
Globally it is now recognized as a moral and economic duty to help make communities inclusive and liveable for everyone where everyday activities should NOT become a daunting task to accomplish.

The growing emphasis world over is that citizens should never be marginalised by attitudinal, physical or architectural barriers.

We also believe the time now is most appropriate to highlight some vital issues of national importance that we would like you to act on.

The country’s biggest minority
Due to injuries after 30 years of armed conflict, accidents, ageing, numerous debilitating medical conditions or convalescing after surgery or illness, many people, for short periods or throughout their lives, find their mobility, dexterity, sight, hearing or brain functioning restricted.

But, Sirs, it is NOT their impairments that find themselves fighting a silent uphill battle in daily life, but the social environment that renders people dis-Abled.
Hence, this trend is reversible in your able hands.

The benches of the Supreme Court, in 2009 and in 2011, has unanimously agreed that near 20% of our population in this plight form the country’s biggest minority.

Legal Provisions but Failed Promises
Laws and regulations made in October 2006 and the Supreme Court Order in April 2011 enshrined the principle of‘accessibility for all’.

Except for bits and pieces here and there, they have not been implemented, promoting marginalisation.

The right to enjoy access is also the single right on which enjoyment of several other rights depends heavily on.

The dis-Ability Rights Bill (2010) that resolves key issues and the National policy of Sri Lanka on dis-Ability (2005) that affords equal opportunities within the socio-economic mainstream, have yet to be enacted.

Nearly 152 countries, including Bangladesh, Mongolia and Vietnam have ratified the 2007 signed UN Convention to promote, defend and reinforce the basic rights of this minority; Sri Lanka has not.

We hoped that the elected politicians from several parties, with whom we have worked closely, would make decisions for improving the quality of our lives.
Even after 20 years, progress has been negligible.

None of them has even spoken in Parliament nor shown the desire to identify the root causes of our key issues.

We firmly believe that our former parliamentarians and leaders lack the empathy, experience or subject knowledge to act on what was truly needed.
After all there is an old saying: “YOU CAN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND ANOTHER PERSON’S EXPERIENCE UNTIL YOU’VE WALKED A MILE IN THEIR SHOES.”

Negative Consequences to our Nation
1.In daily life, people with restricted ability are still marginalised and deprived of equal opportunities in gainful employment, education, health, recreation, shopping, travel, information and communication.

A Few examples are:
a) Children with limited mobility are often unable to access schools or universities or even ATM machines due to inaccessible and unsafe design facilities.
Even such Mahapola-funded recipients are marginalised from benefiting.

b) The gainfully employed are often denied the opportunity to continue to work due to inaccessible work environments and prejudiced employers. They then become a burden on their families and the nation.

c)None of the reputed hospitals has an accessible toilet in any ward for wheelchair users.

d) In spite of the law, many government and private institutions, banks, hotels, restaurants, sports stadia, schools and places of recreation – toilets and washrooms in particular -remain inaccessible and /or a safety hazard often for the ambulant.

e)Sri Lanka remains an unfriendly destination to a growing tourist sector, the global senior population of about 15%. The‘Accessible Tourism’ sector is an untapped lucrative market mainly because of our poor infrastructure.

f)‘Sign’ language – the only mode of communication for our hearing impaired people - is not legally recognised nor promoted in Sri Lanka.

g) The hand-held devices freely available overseas that bring improvement to the Quality of Life of those whose ability to see is poor,are yet not available here. Certain laws due to the absence of any ‘exceptions’ clause – such as The Intellectual Property Law – further hinders their lives.

h) For many of our heroic soldiers on retirement and also other victims of the 30-year conflict, now faced with various stages of restricted ability, life in civil society brings new sets of problems.We need to recognise and resolve these issues.

2. Constitutional protection still evades this largest minority.

We proposed minor amendments to Article (12.3) of the Constitution, but found no politician to present this at the Parliament.
3.The right to live as Equal Citizens with Dignity.

Our Fervent Appeal to you
1.At the end of the throne speech at the opening of the 8th Parliament, President Sirisena requested Sri Lankan intellectuals dispersed around the country and abroad to use their expertise and skills to develop their motherland.

Sirs, we await this opportunity to offer you unreservedly our expertise backed by long years of wide experience to work with you in bringing about ‘Equality and Social Justice’ for the 4 Million Citizens with restricted ability.

Help us help you in the drive for equality.
2. Activate the dormant legislation and set up the framework to ensure it is effectively implemented and followed as promised by you to strengthen the rule of law.

Among the many other priorities the new government is having, we believe, in the larger interest of AN INCLUSIVE BETTER SRI LANKA, these are ‘practical and possible’.

As Dr. Lee Jonk-wook – the then Director General of WHO said:
“The way a country treats its ‘ability restricted’ population and the true extent to which they are respected as fully-fledged citizens is a realistic internationally recognized measure of a country’s good governance, reflects its Human Rights image and a far more telling indicator and a sure test of society’s development than GDP.”

With our new leaders emphasising ‘Yaha Paalanaya’(Good Governance), a Just Society and a ‘Pivithuru Hetak’ we are confident in this ‘promise-keeping’ era, you will soon heed our call.

It is not an act of Charity but an Act of Justice and, Justice Enriches us All.

Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera - a former senior manager in industry and a test-match-panel cricket umpire -this August with three others, became the first wheelchair user to contest a Parliamentary Election in Sri Lanka. He was left instantly a paraplegic for life by a fallen way side tree in 1992. For further information please see http://goo.gl/3FWyW

Opinion

Allow Largest Minority to be stakeholders in a new Sri Lanka

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