Wheelchair campaigner for Disability Rights

Rasika Somarathna

COMMITMENT: The Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, which has the largest number of residential population in Sri Lanka, held its annual Kaladeepani Literary Festival last Friday afternoon.

It was held amidst a large gathering of distinguished personnel, including Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara who was the Chief Guest, Sunethra Ranasinghe, Mayoress of Dehiawala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, W. A. Gunawardena the Municipal Commissioner and television artiste, at the Dehiwala Pinwatta Purana Rajamaviharaya auditorium.

This significant event of educational and cultural value, was organised by the Dehiwala Central Library under the leadership of Sirisena Kusummula Chief Librarian assisted by the library advisory committee in association with the Dehiwala Municipal Council with the blessings of the Mayoress.

Speaker Lokubandara in his stimulating address indicated that Sri Lankans has an alphabet not copied from any part of the world along with a very rich heritage, unique culture and traditions of its own that extends to the B.C. era, giving a unique identification of our Nation, that every Sri Lankan should be equally proud of.

Professor Ananda Abeysiriwardena Chief Editor of the Sinhala Dictionary said a language made up of letters, words and phrases arranged in many ways, put into vocal use by sounds generating from the rhythmical movement of different parts of the vocal system, is typical only to the mankind.

The Mayoress said, apart from the routine functions a municipal council does, it is also important to organise cultural and literary events of educational value for the betterment of the society we live.

The key activity of this year's event, was to identify and honour befittingly some outstanding personnel of Sri Lanka and few more distinguished citizens from Dehiwala Municipal Council area who have rendered exemplary services to different subject areas including literature.

It was most encouraging to note that as a Distinguished Citizen a special award was made to a Wheelchair user, Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, an eminent Sri Lankan who has achieved excellence simultaneously in several unrelated fields from here and in England. He is a Chartered Chemist by profession, a former Test-match Cricket Umpire and also a Senior Manager in training of people and quality assurance functions in working with two reputed multinational organisations here.

A tragic accident in 1992 made him instantaneously a Wheelchair user.

Yet, he has continued to fight ahead with dignified fortitude and win honour, even internationally, and bring recognition to Sri Lanka through his academic and professional achievements and some significant contributions.

Seated on a wheelchair he now utilises his remaining resources with his leadership qualities and continues to bring inspiration to us, proving again he still remains 'Not Out' and is truly a productive citizen.

Dr. Ajith Perera a known voluntary pioneer campaigner in this country for accessible built environments for all people, in fact is also the beacon of light to IDIRIYA, a registered not-for-profit humanitarian service Organization based in Dehiwala itself, dedicated to promote the positive image of the rapidly increasing numbers of the Disabled people.

At a time when the incipient talents and the innate potential of a person goes unrecognised and unrewarded with false perceptions about the person no sooner in becoming a wheelchair user, this was a significant achievement not only by Dr. Ajith Perera but by the disabled population, which is a most welcome breakthrough made by the organisers, who must be commended here.

The other fifteen distinguished recipients of Kaladeepani Award included the late Ven. Professor Meegoda Pannaloka Thera, Shasthrapathi Pundit Talalle Dhammaloka Thera, Dr. Miniwan P. Thilakarathna along with Rev. Father Benedict Joseph, Professor Ananada Abeysiriwardena, Professor Daya Edirisinghe and actor Wijeyratna Warakagoda.