Dr. Ajith Perera receives UNASL APEX award
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UN Resident Coordinator Una McCauley presenting the award to Dr. Ajith Perera
Two APEX awards were presented by the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka (UNASL) to activist for the rights of the disabled Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera at an event held to celebrate United Nations Day. It was the first time in Sri Lanka that a national body or a professional association has recognised the need for the promotion of human rights / accessibility rights in Sri Lanka.
The event was organised by UNASL on October 30 at the Bishop’s College auditorium in Colombo.
United Nations country team-leader in Sri Lanka, UN resident coordinator Una McCauley was the chief guest. The award, “was in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the community, undeterred by his personal adversity, playing voluntarily eight different roles over 17 consecutive years to promote Accessibility Rights,focusing on enhancement of the quality of daily life of people of all abilities”, the citation said.
High on the UN agenda as a goal is the need for people, especially the worlds largest minority and vulnerable group – people with dis-abilities – to be guaranteed the full enjoyment of Human Rights including the Right to Access.
This year’s programme by the UNASL was organised in collaboration with United Nations Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.