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Gunasekera lost both his legs due to a landmine while doing operational duties in the North. Being a true soldier, the loss of both legs did not ditter him from living with dignity using his other abilities. He obtained a driving license for invalid carriage and made a living by driving an adjusted three-wheeler. He has been doing this for 10 years, and was able to build his own house and to purchase a new three-wheeler adjusted for use by one who has no legs. He is proud to say that he has been accident free.

One day he wanted to go to Colombo by bus to visit his son, who had won a scholarship to a leading school. But the bus conductor refused to take him and his wheel chair.

He offered to pay for an extra seat. Still he was refused on the grounds that this precedence may lead to a regular loss of business for the private bus operator.

Came a new traffic policeman to his town recently. After 10 years he was not only stopped from carrying on his three-wheeler business because his invalid carriage licence was for his previous adjusted vehicle, but he was also arraigned to be produced in Court. Fortunately when the Rana Viru Seva Authority (RVSA) brought it to the notice of superior Police Officers, saner counsel prevailed.

Gunesekera and others maimed by the war cannot even enter a Divisional Secretariat to attend to their licences or to any private restaurant, hotel, hall or workplace because of the narrow entry to the buildings and climbing of steps, and there is no wheel chair access or respect for the white cane or crutches.

They are not treated with dignity and with equal respect as other independent citizens. Is this the way we treat those who gave up their limbs, eyes, and other body parts in the service of the Nation, whilst we ourselves are thus able to engage in our pursuits in peace, because of them?

The RVSA has now started a special project to empower the differently abled by arranging for their skills training, by making part payment for their invalid carriage and their partially built houses, by providing mobile commodes to the leg disabled, and by improving conditions in the Rana Viru Gammana - some of these villages for the differently abled do not even have basic utilities such as water and telephones.

Those who wish to contribute to the RVSA Disabled War Heroes project can send cheques payable to this Project (Account No. 0747-08-0000440-0) and your contribution will be linked to a specific recipient with whom further communication can continue. In this Project, the RVSA works closely with the Association of Disabled Ex-Service and Police Personnel (ADEP - No. 77/2, Kuruppu Road, Colombo 8. Telephone - 686135)

- Rana Viru Seva Authority

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