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Access for all at Kakirawa Pradeshiya sabha

 A Disability #Accessibility Audit and 2 Advocacy Group discussions were held at the #Kakirawa Pradeshiya Sabha in Anuradhapura district in North Central Province in Sri Lanka in December 2021. The team was led by Ms. #Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre. The advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Kakirawa 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.

It is part of the #European Union’s STRIDE (Strengthening Transformation, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Democratic Engagement) programme focused on strengthening the capacities of local government authorities to be inclusive, responsive, and accountable, and improve service delivery.

Together with the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) Project of United Nations Development Programme (#UNDP) and The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), implemented this project on Disability accessibility audit and enhancing the capacity of technical officers in the local government structure.

The EFC, with an overall vision statement to promote social harmony through productive employment, is implementing several proactive measures to encourage its members to hire people with disabilities.

The EFC is the representative employers’ Organisation in Sri Lanka on social issues. It has a membership of 700 plus member Companies. Formed in 1929, it was the first Organisation to register under the Trade Unions Ordinance and is the principal Trade Union representing employers. The EFC, with funding from the ILO, developed the Employers’ Network on Disability to facilitate employment and training opportunities in the Private Sector for disabled jobseekers, which was officially launched in the year 1999. It has a membership of 700 plus Companies.

The object of forming the Network 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.  

 

A group of eight people standing outdoors in front of a building. Seven of them are standing, and one person is sitting in a wheelchair in the center. All are wearing face masks and visible name badges on blue lanyards. The group is dressed in a mix of casual and professional clothing, with a couple of women in sarees, others in shirts, and one woman in a red printed top. The setting appears sunny, with some green plants and the building entrance in the background.


Outdoor community meeting scene. Several people are sitting on plastic chairs facing a group of individuals at a long table covered with a colorful checked tablecloth. The people behind the table, likely the event's speakers or officials, are wearing formal or semi-formal clothing. Nearly everyone, both the speakers and attendees, are wearing face masks, suggesting precautions for COVID-19. The meeting is held under the shade of a leafy tree, next to a building with multiple windows. The atmosphere looks formal, structured, and attentive.

A man in a blue wheelchair, wearing a checkered shirt and a mask, is seated in front of a computer desk in a classroom or office environment. Two women, also wearing masks, stand nearby—one in a green saree and the other in a blue blouse with a patterned skirt. They seem to be engaged in discussion or assisting the man. There are several computer workstations with monitors, keyboards, and chairs in the room. On the wall in the background, there are colorful informational posters with text and images. The atmosphere appears supportive and educational, and all participants are wearing masks, possibly due to health protocols.

Outdoor gathering of people wearing face masks and sitting on plastic chairs. The group includes men, women, and children, arranged in rows facing forward. The setting appears to be a shaded, open area with trees, dirt ground, and a rustic structure or shed in the background. There is a red tuk-tuk parked partly inside the shed, and a black pickup truck with its door open on the right. A colorful checkered cloth is visible in the foreground, possibly covering a table. The atmosphere seems quiet and attentive, suggesting a meeting, waiting, or a community event.



#Manique Gunaratne

Core Founder – Lanka School on Internet Governance

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