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Visually Handicapped Federation calls for peaceful poll

The R. A. Sirisena, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped said it is the Federation's wish that peace and calm will prevail before, during and after the election and all parties concerned will take meaningful and effective steps to ensure a free and fair election. Sirisena in a release, said the Federation is the premier and pioneer national self-help organisation of the visually handicapped community in this country.

The release stated: "Established in 1974, we have around 3,000 members spread in nine branches covering 15 districts in the country. Our main objectives are to meet the needs and aspirations of the visually handicapped community and to improve their quality of life.

We are confident that all parties will ensure that due recognition is given to the plight of persons with disabilities who constitute approximately 10 per cent of our population (in accordance with World Health Organization estimates) and perhaps, a similar percentage of our voter.

Of course, in Sri Lanka the number of persons with disabilities would have increased considerably after 1983 due to the two decade old ethnic war.

The specific fields we would request you to address and take a firm stand on, are;

a). Provision of educational facilities and equipment to all visually handicapped students including under-graduates;

b). Provision of equal opportunities in securing appropriate employment for visually handicapped persons without being discriminated against on the grounds of disability.

c). Granting of aid and consultancy on costing and marketing for establishment of self employment project.

d). Assistance for housing and allied facilities for visually handicapped persons and reservation of percentage of homes in government housing scheme for persons with disabilities.

e). Introduce legislation providing accessibility to public transport, hospitals, public utility institutions, etc.

f). Payment of a monthly allowance to persons with disabilities who do not have a regular income according to a suitably formulated scheme; as is prevalent in other countries.

g). Appointment of persons with disability to Parliament through the National List. Visually handicapped persons have served as Presidents of Indonesia and the Dominican Republic and as Ministers in Sweden and U.K. The President, Minister of Home Affairs in England, David Blunkett is blind.

It is hoped that our submissions will receive due consideration and we solicit a suitable response to this communication."

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