SLS for disabled friendly buildings
M.P. Muttiah
Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana introduced the
Sri Lanka Standard (SLS ISO TR 9527) for building construction at a
press conference held at the Government Information Department.
Minister Vitarana said that accessibility to public buildings and
facilities was an inherent right. It was a moral duty and social
responsibility to design future public constructions to enable rather
than disable the significant and increasing number of people had been
curtailed mobility due to the recently ended war.
He further added that when planning constructions at public
buildings, equal opportunities should be given to the disabled to
participate in normal social life optimise their productive potential
and fully benefit from the resources the State provided without
unnecessarily continuing dependency on others.
The Minister pointed out that the Supreme Court ordered that all new
public buildings should provide reasonable access to facilities for
persons with physical disabilities.
This ruling on a fundamental rights case in the national interest
would make these concepts turn into reality soon.
Sri Lanka Standards Institution for building construction had taken
into consideration the needs of disabled people in buildings and hence
would certainly pave the way towards greater accessibility.
Although an Act on disabled rights was passed in 1996 and the
regulations came into force in 2006, it was not implemented, the
Minister said.
Sri Lanka Standards Institute Chairman Dr. A.R.L. Wijesekera said his
institution would help the architects, engineers and builders to know
what needs and necessities should be met by them in providing reasonable
access to the physically disabled at new public buildings.
This would enable these professionals to get the plans approved and
receive COC clearances without wasting valuable resources, he said.
Disability rights activist Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera presented the
Minister with a copy his book entitled 'Access Ability for All-Why?' |
