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| Monday, 1 March 2004 |
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by Florence Wickramage G.N. Heenbanda of Gampaha, who is totally blind, says the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind is totally responsible for his rehabilitation and his entire family's well-being. Supported by the Council for over 10 years, he added that all his children were now doing well in life as useful citizens in their chosen professions. He attributed the success of his life to the Council and pledged his support in the future. The Sri Lanka Council for the Blind was set up in 1967 and helps the visually handicapped sector to be valuable citizens of the country. The Council is financially supported mainly by philanthropists and benefactors while receiving a government grant of Rs. 50,000 per year. Speaking at the Council's Annual General Meeting in Colombo on Friday, its President Amaradasa Gunawardene said that the Council conducts rehabilitation programmes to help visually handicapped persons to engage in self-employment projects. "The council's chair-rattaning project was launched in 1993 where over 15 persons specialised in this job are found employment in private and state sector institutions. The council's Braille Sector has been successful in publishing a tri-monthly magazine Vinivida while in the Reading Library 78 books have been cassette-taped for the members' use. The Library has a membership of 92 visually handicapped persons," Gunawardene said. He added that Sri Lanka's sole visually handicapped Camp is conducted by the Council. Seeking media assistance to promote the council's work, Gunawardene said it would be a far more meritorious act rather than blowing up the image of politicians. The Council's Senior Deputy President Attorney-at-Law R.M.S.P. Gunaratne and Secretary S.L. Hettiarachchi also spoke. |
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