Government recognises rights of hearing impaired

The Government recognises that the hearing impaired have right to freedom of expression and opinion including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on equal basis with others through all forms of communication of their choice, Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda said.

The Minister said this in a message to the sign language dictionary published by the Central Federation of the Deaf.

The presentation of the Sign Language Dictionary took place at the Ministry on October 31.

He said he is happy, that the Central Federation of the Deaf has undertaken to publish a Sign Language Dictionary in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

The Federation is represented in the National Council for the Persons with Disabilities, the focal point in his Ministry to promote the rights of the Persons with Disabilities. The Minister added he is fully aware of the activities of the Federation strive to promote and protect the rights of the hearing impaired.

The Ministry will support the efforts of the Federation in promoting and disseminating the Sign Language Dictionary and assist them to promote the interest of the deaf in Sri Lanka. The Federation will continue to develop text books and other materials based on the standardised sign language and disseminate the same, Islandwide for the benefit of the deaf.

Director Programme of Handicap International Florence Milst Ombudsman Sign Language of SDR Organisation Thomas Hedberg, Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare V. Jegarasasingam, Leader of the Opposition of Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council Kessaralal Gunasekera participated.