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Access for all at Polonnaruwa Municipal Council

 #UNDP CDLG is a four-year project (2020-2023) targeting the Eastern, Northern, North-Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka.

A Disability #Accessibility Audit and 2 Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Polonnaruwa Municipal Council in Polonnaruwa district in North Central Province in Sri Lanka in January 2022. 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 Polonnaruwa Municipal Council and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Municipal Council 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. 

  

Group of twelve people, eleven standing and one seated in a wheelchair, all wearing face masks and name badges, standing outdoors in front of a building entrance. The building has glass doors with white text and decorative designs, and there's greenery in the background. Most are dressed in business-casual attire and are looking towards the camera. The environment is bright with natural daylight.

A group of six adults, all wearing face masks, are gathered outdoors on a paved road. One man in a blue shirt is seated in a wheelchair in the center. Two men stand to the left; one of them is holding a white cane, indicating he may have a visual impairment, and the other is gesturing with his hand as if explaining something. Three women are standing to the right, one of whom has a colorful purse and is wearing white pants and a pink top. There are trees and a white building with windows and a fence in the background. The group appears to be engaged in a discussion or instructional activity, possibly related to accessibility or mobility training. Sunlight creates shadows on the ground.

Office meeting scene. Three women are sitting at a large wooden conference table in black office chairs. Two of the women are at the center front: one in a pink outfit working on a laptop, the other in an orange outfit making a peace sign gesture. Both are wearing face masks. Another woman, partially visible to the right, is also masked and appears to be wearing a patterned dress. There are some personal items on the table including a tan handbag and some markers. The office has white walls, large windows with blinds, and glass doors leading to another room. The atmosphere appears professional and calm.

Man in a wheelchair measuring height. He is wearing a blue shirt, black pants, and a white face mask. He is sitting in a blue wheelchair and using a yellow tape measure to measure the height from the floor to the underside of a wooden desk. The person is looking toward the camera. The desk has office items on it, including a computer monitor, keyboard, red container, bag, and other objects. The office has wood paneling and a curved desk setup.


                 

#Manique Gunaratne

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBhDQ516xwVr86zKLM1HUw


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