Sunday Times 2
Disability rights activist seeks right to equality provision in new constitution
View(s):The Committee appointed by the Government to seek public opinion on the proposed reforms to the Constitution began work from Colombo last Monday. Obtaining oral and written public views in Colombo took place until 4.30 p.m. on Friday 22nd January at its secretariat at Visumpaya, Staples Street, Colombo – 02.
Dr. Ajith Perera, a wheelchair user, presenting his proposals to Committee Chairman Lal Wijenayake and Secretary Winston Pathiraja.
This committee headed by Senior lawyer Lal Wijenayake will continue to compile public views and suggestions from all over the country. Disability rights activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera was amongst the first few to make both oral and written submission on Monday. His submissions centred on the rights of the people with restricted ability.
Speaking to the media at Visumpaya Dr. Perera said, even the Supreme Court in 2011 hasaccepted the fact that people with restricted ability is estimated to be not less than 20% of our population. A majority of them are unable by themselves to ensure for themselves, wholly or partly, the necessities of daily life.
Even the Supreme Court has accepted the fact that they form the country’s largest minority. Dr. Perera said: “We badly need today the ‘Rule of Law’ that goes beyond the nominal existence of legal institutions and policies that gather cobwebs without getting implemented in society.
“All citizens, regardless of the degree of ability, require the basic protection enshrined in the Constitution to guarantee that no class of persons shall be denied the same rights that are enjoyed by other classes in same society in like circumstances.
“The present Constitution fails to give this protection to the country’s largest minority.
“The oral submissions I made and the written proposals presented here today, when implemented will enable Constitutional protection to empower People of all abilities in preventing falling down as third class citizens no sooner their abilities are restricted.
“Instead they will be guaranteed of enjoying the democratic rights they are entitled to in day-to-day life, to a meaningful degree.
“This will give life to their lifeless disability rights so that regardless of the degree of one’s ability, everyone could equally integrate into society for full participation in all spheres of daily life as useful and equal partners with dignity and safety and thereby could enjoy day-to-day life as equal citizens”