ACCESS FOR ALL AT MARITIYANPATTU PRADESHIYA SABHA

The object of forming the Employers Network on Disability of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon is to link the business community and the organizations dealing with disability issues to facilitate mainstreaming its work. 

The Capacity Development for Local Governments (CDLG) Project of UNDP Sri Lanka is part of larger efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the local governance system in the country. 

These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.

Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.

A team led by Manique Gunaratne did a disability accessibility audit and an advocacy group discussions with persons with disabilities belonging to Maritiyanpattu Pradeshiya Sabha, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Maritiyanpattu Pradeshiya Sabha in Mullativu district in Northern Province in April 2022.

UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.

Local Governments play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities because of their broad mandate.  

Unlike most state government institutions, Local Governments are multi-functional, with extensive responsibilities and activities across property, community, and human service areas and, in addition, have the capacity to make policy level decisions at the local level.

All these functions and decisions directly or indirectly impact upon the quality of life of the people with disabilities who live, work, and socialize in their local communities.

Therefore, CDLG through this initiative seeks to enhance the internal capacity of local authorities to adhere to disability accessibility regulations in Sri Lanka and raise the awareness on the importance of disability inclusive accessibility to local level services.

This initiative seeks to conduct accessibility audits in selected local government authority office premises amongst other activities.

We are confident that this initiative promoted by the UNDP will improve the accessibility of persons with disabilities to local governance.

 

  Manique conducted an advocacy meeting with local government authorities and persons with disabilities to bridge the gap between them.

Kishara Manique Gunaratne

Member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD)