By Sumaiya Rizvi
The proposed Animal Welfare Bill which is in the stages of debate and discussion has faced strong criticism and support from many organizations.
Animal welfare groups, rights groups and religious groups have agreed and disagreed on various articles of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill. At the same time the Ministry of Livestock Development seems keen to introduce amendments to the existing Animals Act.Section 38 of the Animal Welfare Bill of 2006 which includes the ‘place of slaughter’ proposed by The Law Commission of Sri Lanka has raised concern amongst certain communities.
The article that prohibits slaughter of cows as mentioned in the proposed bill is endorsed by the Sri Lanka Muslim League, according to Islamic guidelines as mentioned in the Holy Quran, “Muslims cannot ‘Kurban’ (sacrifice) cows” A.L.M. Hashim an Attorney-at-Law and of the All Ceylon Muslim League said. ‘However certain articles of the same bill face stiff opposition’, he said.
“Once the bill is passed in parliament, nothing could be done and that’s why we are pushing for deletion and adjustments now” on Article Number 38 of the bill, M.B.M. Zubair, Secretary of the Federation of Kandy Muslim Organizations (FKMO) said.
According to the proposed Animal Welfare Bill by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka, the Article Number 38 (1) specifically states the places where animals cannot be slaughtered as, “In a private dwelling, in a residential area or a public place”.
Agreeing to the rest of the sentence he considers the only hitch with the words ‘public place’ is that it includes the mosque and “in rural areas the mosques own land where they carry out ‘Kurban’ (sacrifice)” Zubair explained.
A section of the Animal Welfare Bill proposed by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka 2006:
Restrictions on the slaughter of cows and buffaloes.
37. (1) No person shall slaughter, or cause or permit to be slaughtered -
(a) any buffalo; or
(b) any cow, unless that cow is certified by a Government Veterinary Surgeon or a Veterinary Surgeon employed by any local authority, to be –
(i) not less than twelve years of age, or
(ii) incapable of breeding, or
(iii) Unfit to be used for any agricultural purpose.
Conditions regarding slaughter of quadrupeds
38. (1) notwithstanding anything to the country in any other law with regard to the grant of licenses for the slaughter of any quadruped, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered a quadruped in a private dwelling house in a residential area or a place of business or a public place.
(2) No person shall slaughter any quadruped where the meat or any part of the carcass of the quadruped is meant to be sold or distributed for any purpose whatever unless such person holds a certificate of competence in the slaughter of animals issued or recognized by the Authority.
“Public place” for the purpose of this section includes any way, road, square, court, alley, passage or open space whether a thoroughfare or not and any building to which the general public has access.
Mostly at the time of the Hajj festival Muslims world over sacrifice animals a practice in Islam. Presently the people who choose to sacrifice, do it at their homes and mosques given that there is adequate space and the permission from the relevant local authority to carry out the activity. The slaughter houses are unable to cope with accommodating people from the outside. The Katukelle Jumma Mosque is a mosque that allows residential Muslims to sacrifice cattle in the compound of the mosque the caretaker of the mosque said.
A sub division of article number 38 (2) states that “no person can slaughter… unless such person holds a certificate of competence in the slaughter of animal issued or recognized by the authority”.
The draft bill fails to recognize the relevant authority that would be held responsible for issuing such a certificate Zubair said. “There are no training schools for butchers in this country and no place where any person could obtain a certificate of competence,” he added.
“No court however much justifiable it may appear would not pass an order that cannot be enforced, similarly no government should enact any legislation which cannot be implemented,” Zubair a former Assistant Registrar of the Kandy High Court emphasized.
The Animals Act that is in place since 1958 and accepted by the Ministry of Livestock Development. “We would be introducing modifications to the Animal Act,” Dr. S.L.A. Daniel, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Livestock Development said.
He explained that the proposed Animal Welfare Bill does not match with the objectives of the ministry. The ministry’s purpose is to stabilize the slaughter rate and birth rate of quadruped animals slaughtered for consumption purposes, Dr. Daniel stressed.
According to him, the proposed Animal Welfare Bill would have to be adjusted and changed prior to any consideration of the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The Ministry does not support the idea that animals should not be slaughtered for consumption citing cruelty and welfare of animals, Dr. Daniel explained.
There are two intended modifications to the Animals Act. The Minister in charge should have the power to hold or relax restrictions on quadruped consumption, considering the rate of slaughter, he said.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Move to ease tension at Arafa Nagar
By Sumaiya Rizvi and Thushani Jayawardane.
The Brigade commander of the Mutur area has spoken to the villagers of Arafa Nagar, south Trincomalee yesterday and said that he will appeal to the government to re-demarcate the High Security Zone (HSZ) Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. According to the Asst.Government Agent of Mutur M. Shariff, during the last three months the families were visiting the area and clearing overgrown weeds. “Only a month ago they started to cultivate few fruits and vegetables on a small scale” he said.
“The confusion was due to the military in the nearby Kattaparichchan camp allowing the families to re-visit and cultivate the area prior to the gazette notification” Brig. Samarasinghe said. However, the families were not allowed to re-settle in the area he added.
According to Brig. Samarasinghe in 1985, forty eight families left Arafa Nagar when the LTTE captured the area. Now 22 years “After re-capturing the Sampur, 84 families with 423 people have returned to re-claim the land” which was once owned by them he said. 56 Families of Arafa Nagar claim dry rations from the government said Shariff. All the families who were displaced during 1985 live with relatives and friends he added.
The Brigade commander of the Mutur area has spoken to the villagers of Arafa Nagar, south Trincomalee yesterday and said that he will appeal to the government to re-demarcate the High Security Zone (HSZ) Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. According to the Asst.Government Agent of Mutur M. Shariff, during the last three months the families were visiting the area and clearing overgrown weeds. “Only a month ago they started to cultivate few fruits and vegetables on a small scale” he said.
“The confusion was due to the military in the nearby Kattaparichchan camp allowing the families to re-visit and cultivate the area prior to the gazette notification” Brig. Samarasinghe said. However, the families were not allowed to re-settle in the area he added.
According to Brig. Samarasinghe in 1985, forty eight families left Arafa Nagar when the LTTE captured the area. Now 22 years “After re-capturing the Sampur, 84 families with 423 people have returned to re-claim the land” which was once owned by them he said. 56 Families of Arafa Nagar claim dry rations from the government said Shariff. All the families who were displaced during 1985 live with relatives and friends he added.
Up goes milk powder price
By Sumaiya Rizvi and Thushani Jayawardane
The price of a 400 gram packet of imported milk powder will increase by Rs.15 from today due to the price increase in the world market, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday. “The price of imported milk powder will go up by Rs.15 for a 400 gram packet and the price of Highland milk powder of the same weight will increase by Rs.20,” he said.
The producer of local Highland milk requested permission to increase the existing price of Rs.140 three months ago, Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.K. Ratnayake said.
“We allowed an increase by Rs.20, but the same price for sometime was maintained until it was decided to increase it to Rs.160 from today,” he said. Minister Gunawardane said private milk powder importers asked for an increase of Rs.60, but he allowed only an increase of Rs.15. The price of a metric tonne of milk powder in the world market has increased up to US$5000 compared to US$2200 a few years ago, he said.
“If anywhere in the world, the prices are lower than the prices at which we buy, we welcome that information. We will buy from them,” the minister said.
According to Dr. Ratnayake a milch cow in Sri Lanka produces 2.5 litres of milk per day, whereas a cow in milk powder producing countries produces 36 to 40 litres per day, he said. He also said local milk powder importers like Maliban, Kotmale and Milgro halted their distribution due to the escalating prices of milk powder in the world market.
“We have unified the taxes on most essential goods, so their prices in the market should go down,” Dr. Ratnayake said. He said the Government would lose one billion rupees a month due to the unification of taxes.
“We want the public to reap the maximum benefit of this relief,” Dr. Ratnayake said.
He said private vendors should reduce the prices of essential goods to the same level as at SATHOSA.
“We expect the public to demand these goods at the revised prices from the groceries and shops they patronise,” he added.
The price of a 400 gram packet of imported milk powder will increase by Rs.15 from today due to the price increase in the world market, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday. “The price of imported milk powder will go up by Rs.15 for a 400 gram packet and the price of Highland milk powder of the same weight will increase by Rs.20,” he said.
The producer of local Highland milk requested permission to increase the existing price of Rs.140 three months ago, Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.K. Ratnayake said.
“We allowed an increase by Rs.20, but the same price for sometime was maintained until it was decided to increase it to Rs.160 from today,” he said. Minister Gunawardane said private milk powder importers asked for an increase of Rs.60, but he allowed only an increase of Rs.15. The price of a metric tonne of milk powder in the world market has increased up to US$5000 compared to US$2200 a few years ago, he said.
“If anywhere in the world, the prices are lower than the prices at which we buy, we welcome that information. We will buy from them,” the minister said.
According to Dr. Ratnayake a milch cow in Sri Lanka produces 2.5 litres of milk per day, whereas a cow in milk powder producing countries produces 36 to 40 litres per day, he said. He also said local milk powder importers like Maliban, Kotmale and Milgro halted their distribution due to the escalating prices of milk powder in the world market.
“We have unified the taxes on most essential goods, so their prices in the market should go down,” Dr. Ratnayake said. He said the Government would lose one billion rupees a month due to the unification of taxes.
“We want the public to reap the maximum benefit of this relief,” Dr. Ratnayake said.
He said private vendors should reduce the prices of essential goods to the same level as at SATHOSA.
“We expect the public to demand these goods at the revised prices from the groceries and shops they patronise,” he added.
It was a watery grave for Anoma
By Senaka de Silva and Sumaiya Rizvi
The irresponsible behaviour of the CMC is blamed for the loss of an innocent life in Colombo yesterday.
Young S.M. Anoma Induttara Gunadasa (30) of Uyana road, Moratuwa, an employee of the “Save the Children Fund” could not ‘save’ herself after she fell into an unprotected manhole along Wijerama Road in Colombo 7.
Anoma joined the Save the Children Fund in June last year as a research coordinator and was an excellent team member, dedicated to her work and committed to the vision of the organization.
Grieving colleagues said Anoma was soon to get married to one of her fellow workers at the time of her untimely death.
Cinnamon Gardens Inspector K. Kirthipala said the CMC workers who had removed the manhole lid for maintenance work might have failed to replace it.
However CMC officials said workmen cleaned the water outlets daily but made it a point to replace the lids to ensure the safety of the pedestrians.
The irresponsible behaviour of the CMC is blamed for the loss of an innocent life in Colombo yesterday.
Young S.M. Anoma Induttara Gunadasa (30) of Uyana road, Moratuwa, an employee of the “Save the Children Fund” could not ‘save’ herself after she fell into an unprotected manhole along Wijerama Road in Colombo 7.
Anoma joined the Save the Children Fund in June last year as a research coordinator and was an excellent team member, dedicated to her work and committed to the vision of the organization.
Grieving colleagues said Anoma was soon to get married to one of her fellow workers at the time of her untimely death.
Cinnamon Gardens Inspector K. Kirthipala said the CMC workers who had removed the manhole lid for maintenance work might have failed to replace it.
However CMC officials said workmen cleaned the water outlets daily but made it a point to replace the lids to ensure the safety of the pedestrians.
Facing the recycling challenge - Sethsevana on an ambitious green project
By Sumaiya Rizvi
A few minutes drive past the Ratmalana junction in close proximity to the main road overlooking the Lunawa swamp sits the Seth Sevana Foundation on 40 perches of land. I had expected the worst. After all, a garbage dump should have an awful smell but I was pleasantly surprised.
Seth Sevana Foundation deals only with industrial waste and not domestic waste. “Only household garbage smells,” explained Lloyd Fernando the Project Manager of the Foundation.The Foundations proprietor, D S Ferdinando has made quite a career change since his retirement as a teacher at the School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. We often talk about ‘making a difference’ in terms of benefiting the country, community and most importantly oneself. Having a re-cycling company helps make the ‘difference’ explained Ferdinando. “I only wanted to secure the future of the physically impaired,” said Ferdinando, who has been able to contribute to the development process of the country while also reaping good profits out of the venture.
The seemingly drastic change in career had taken place gradually. Retiring in the early 1990’s Ferdinando employed his physically impaired students to manufacture metal chairs by using waste metal. Four successful years later the Sri Lankan arena was flooded with plastic chairs leading to the downfall of his project, Fernando said.
“We started in 1996 at a time where re-cycling was unheard of.. “Waste management is not even a subject in our universities to date” Fernando added. Looking into the practicality of starting a solid waste management project was the first move he made. The Community Environmental Initiative Facility (CEIF) a non- governmental organization, helped to set up the waste management project of the Seth Sevana Foundation (SSF).
Degradable waste has the ability to undergo chemical or biological decomposition or rot and is therefore environmentally friendly, Fernando explained. According to research conducted in 1999 by the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, 185 tons of non-degradable polythene and plastic waste are disposed of within the Colombo district each day and 40 tons within Colombo city. “That was the last time a research was conducted on waste” said Fernando.
According to the American Society of Plastics Industry (ASPI) there are about 50 different groups of plastics and hundreds of varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and recycling easier, ASPI has developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic.
The types and most common uses are HDPE- High Density Polyethylene – bottles used for milk and washing liquids, LDPE- Low Density Polyethylene – carrier bags and bin liners, PVC – polyvinyl chloride – Food trays, cling film, bottles for mineral water and shampoo, PET – polyethylene terephthalate – fizzy drink bottles and oven ready meal trays, PP – polypropylene – margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays and PS – polystyrene – plastic egg cartons and plastic cutlery. Other plastics such as melamine do not fall into any category.
A ton in general terms is equal to the weight of a high roof van. This small scale organization takes in 30 tons of industrial waste polythene (polythene bags used in clothing factories) and plastic (empty car battery boxes) per month and recycles it into small tablet sized grey plastic pellets. These re-usable pellets can be used to make plastic products. “We cannot use all polythene, like most washing powder packets due to the cover being laminated”, Fernando said, adding that “the plastic pellets are re-used to produce colorful plastic balls and dolls etc”.
“It is very important for the polythene and plastic to be as clean as possible” Fernando said. A task easier said than done. The beginning of the process involves pain staking hours of hand picking the unwanted tape on polythene bags and washing and drying the bags and battery boxes. Washing takes up a bulk of the time given that advanced technological washing machines are not at their disposal due to financial constrains. Fernando said. “The government should try to provide technological help which will increase our productivity and efficiency”. “Each day we re-cycle one ton, but washing machines can increase it to five tons a day” he added.
On the 21st of May this year, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) initiated the solid waste management campaign to combat the adverse effects of non-degradable waste on the environment, said Rizvi Majid, Project Manager, National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management.
“Before getting down to meeting the re-cycling companies and increasing their productivity, we want to set up a system like bottle and paper collection centers for plastic and polythene collection” he added..
A similar project is in the pipeline for the rapidly growing Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha area. This will be carried out along with an awareness programs aimed at educating the student population on the negative outcome of non- degradable waste. The main objective of the project “is to train villagers to collect polythene and plastic in a bag and get the Pradeshiya Sabha to store it in a warehouse before providing it to the re-cyclers to be re-used” Majid said.
According to Jayawilal Fernando, Director of Hazardous Waste Management at the CEA “lunch sheets and old bags were not thick enough to be recycled.”. The islandwide ban on manufacturing and using polythene with a thickness of less than 20 microns was imposed on January 1 this year but later extended to the April 1, 2007, Fernando said.
“We don’t have facilities to transport the required raw material” said Fernando. He hopes that the government will be able to implement a system similar to the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha in Ratmalana…
In April 2007 Engineers for Social Responsibility (ESR) held a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand which was addressed by Sean Finnigan who spoke of work being carried out in developing solid waste management (SWM) processes in Sri Lanka. ESR found that the waste composition in Sri Lanka is mostly compostables with only 10-12% of recyclables.
In developed countries meanwhile only 50% is compostable and 30-40% is recyclable waste Finnigan said. As Sri Lanka becomes more urbanised and the economy grows, waste generation is expected to increase and surely the challenges facing society to recycle will become bigger.
A few minutes drive past the Ratmalana junction in close proximity to the main road overlooking the Lunawa swamp sits the Seth Sevana Foundation on 40 perches of land. I had expected the worst. After all, a garbage dump should have an awful smell but I was pleasantly surprised.
Seth Sevana Foundation deals only with industrial waste and not domestic waste. “Only household garbage smells,” explained Lloyd Fernando the Project Manager of the Foundation.The Foundations proprietor, D S Ferdinando has made quite a career change since his retirement as a teacher at the School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. We often talk about ‘making a difference’ in terms of benefiting the country, community and most importantly oneself. Having a re-cycling company helps make the ‘difference’ explained Ferdinando. “I only wanted to secure the future of the physically impaired,” said Ferdinando, who has been able to contribute to the development process of the country while also reaping good profits out of the venture.
The seemingly drastic change in career had taken place gradually. Retiring in the early 1990’s Ferdinando employed his physically impaired students to manufacture metal chairs by using waste metal. Four successful years later the Sri Lankan arena was flooded with plastic chairs leading to the downfall of his project, Fernando said.
“We started in 1996 at a time where re-cycling was unheard of.. “Waste management is not even a subject in our universities to date” Fernando added. Looking into the practicality of starting a solid waste management project was the first move he made. The Community Environmental Initiative Facility (CEIF) a non- governmental organization, helped to set up the waste management project of the Seth Sevana Foundation (SSF).
Degradable waste has the ability to undergo chemical or biological decomposition or rot and is therefore environmentally friendly, Fernando explained. According to research conducted in 1999 by the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, 185 tons of non-degradable polythene and plastic waste are disposed of within the Colombo district each day and 40 tons within Colombo city. “That was the last time a research was conducted on waste” said Fernando.
According to the American Society of Plastics Industry (ASPI) there are about 50 different groups of plastics and hundreds of varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and recycling easier, ASPI has developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic.
The types and most common uses are HDPE- High Density Polyethylene – bottles used for milk and washing liquids, LDPE- Low Density Polyethylene – carrier bags and bin liners, PVC – polyvinyl chloride – Food trays, cling film, bottles for mineral water and shampoo, PET – polyethylene terephthalate – fizzy drink bottles and oven ready meal trays, PP – polypropylene – margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays and PS – polystyrene – plastic egg cartons and plastic cutlery. Other plastics such as melamine do not fall into any category.
A ton in general terms is equal to the weight of a high roof van. This small scale organization takes in 30 tons of industrial waste polythene (polythene bags used in clothing factories) and plastic (empty car battery boxes) per month and recycles it into small tablet sized grey plastic pellets. These re-usable pellets can be used to make plastic products. “We cannot use all polythene, like most washing powder packets due to the cover being laminated”, Fernando said, adding that “the plastic pellets are re-used to produce colorful plastic balls and dolls etc”.
“It is very important for the polythene and plastic to be as clean as possible” Fernando said. A task easier said than done. The beginning of the process involves pain staking hours of hand picking the unwanted tape on polythene bags and washing and drying the bags and battery boxes. Washing takes up a bulk of the time given that advanced technological washing machines are not at their disposal due to financial constrains. Fernando said. “The government should try to provide technological help which will increase our productivity and efficiency”. “Each day we re-cycle one ton, but washing machines can increase it to five tons a day” he added.
On the 21st of May this year, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) initiated the solid waste management campaign to combat the adverse effects of non-degradable waste on the environment, said Rizvi Majid, Project Manager, National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management.
“Before getting down to meeting the re-cycling companies and increasing their productivity, we want to set up a system like bottle and paper collection centers for plastic and polythene collection” he added..
A similar project is in the pipeline for the rapidly growing Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha area. This will be carried out along with an awareness programs aimed at educating the student population on the negative outcome of non- degradable waste. The main objective of the project “is to train villagers to collect polythene and plastic in a bag and get the Pradeshiya Sabha to store it in a warehouse before providing it to the re-cyclers to be re-used” Majid said.
According to Jayawilal Fernando, Director of Hazardous Waste Management at the CEA “lunch sheets and old bags were not thick enough to be recycled.”. The islandwide ban on manufacturing and using polythene with a thickness of less than 20 microns was imposed on January 1 this year but later extended to the April 1, 2007, Fernando said.
“We don’t have facilities to transport the required raw material” said Fernando. He hopes that the government will be able to implement a system similar to the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha in Ratmalana…
In April 2007 Engineers for Social Responsibility (ESR) held a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand which was addressed by Sean Finnigan who spoke of work being carried out in developing solid waste management (SWM) processes in Sri Lanka. ESR found that the waste composition in Sri Lanka is mostly compostables with only 10-12% of recyclables.
In developed countries meanwhile only 50% is compostable and 30-40% is recyclable waste Finnigan said. As Sri Lanka becomes more urbanised and the economy grows, waste generation is expected to increase and surely the challenges facing society to recycle will become bigger.
Design for inclusion, not exclusion
By Sumaiya Rizvi.
“The accident that alters your life happens to you at the most unexpected moment in your life”.
The realization that a simple activity like walking can become a luxury that no currency can buy. Disabled people, differently able people and now respectfully referred to as persons with mobility difficulty (PMD) can be people suffering from permanent (paralysis, arthritis etc) or temporary (fracture, muscle pull) mobility difficulty. PMD’s and their 21st century battle for independence is to achieve equal access to buildings and places.
“The soldiers of the armed forces told me that they don’t need sympathy, they only need opportunity” Dr. Ajith Perera an activist for persons with mobility difficulty said. The sympathetic image the electronic media is showcasing on persons with disability is not helping; instead they need to focus on their abilities in providing them with higher quality of life Dr. Perera also a member of the national council for the disable people added.
The criterion for disability is widespread in relation to the thinking of persons’ with mobility difficulty’ without limiting it to physical impairment. Over 30% of the total population of Sri Lanka has some sort of ailment limiting their mobility Dr. Perera said. Physical and mental impairment can also be triggered by an accident, aging or war situation resulting in an instant disability. “Sri Lanka is faced with an aged population” and the people with mobility difficulty is growing stressed Dr. Perera.
In the case of Mohammed Mussaddiq who suffered injuries to his spinal cord and is on a wheel chair for the rest of his life had to over come mental and physical difficulty that altered his life’s path forever. The mental crossover from being an able bodied person and now having to accept your permanent physical difficulties such as not being able to walk and drastic change in life style is a stiff challenge faced by an individual.
The morale of a PMD is further shattered when they are forced to live in an unfriendly physical environment being denied access to banks, post office, provincial secretary’s office, super markets, cinema halls, restaurants, public toilets etc. The physical environment in relation to the saying ‘can make or break their lives’ is the deciding factor for persons with mobility difficulty. The buildings and places that are accessible to an able person is an obstacle for persons with mobility difficulty. “I can’t go to the ATM and withdraw money, I have to get someone to do it” Mohamed Musaddiq a businessman, on a wheelchair due to a road accident said.
An able person believes he has a considerable understanding as to the difficulties in the life of a disabled person but “In reality they cannot begin to imagine the difference in walking, sleeping, eating, travelling etc” Deepa Palliyaguru a person with a permanent disability on her leg said. The simple activities in an able persons life, is tedious for persons with mobility difficulty she added.
“Our environs are disabled” depriving access to persons with mobility difficulty Viji Jegarajasingham the secretary of the ministry of social services said. The environment we live in is an obstruction for persons with mobility difficulty to independently carry out their day to day chores as paying bills, going to the bank, grocery shopping and going to the cinema etc.
The important factor of ‘equal access to all’ was overlooked by most property developers at the time of construction. In the concept of ‘universal design’ accessibility is given priority when developing a property. In accordance to ‘universal design’ the use of a ramp accompanied by hand bars is constructed in place of a fleet of stairs.
The ramp is further colour coded (eg; ramp in green and hand bar in yellow is painted) for the betterment of the partially blind people. And also wheel chairs need wider doors, fire proof lifts, elevated toilet facilities etc.
Blind people need elevators with voice recordings informing door movements and the floor number or a lift operator. This concept that needs to be incorporated when developing buildings and places will provide “access to physical environments, facilities and services” achieving to enable everyone equally Dr. Perera explained.
“The lack of knowledge to design for inclusion” is one of the main drawbacks when designing buildings suitable for PMD’s Dr. Perera said. The downfall of many organizations which proclaim that they have facilities for the PMD is that they fall short to satisfy the concerns of a person with mobility difficulty Dr. Perera said.
“Most of the Cargills outlets have ramps suitable for good trolleys, not for wheelchair users” he added. The architects don’t have the required knowledge and when they do they forget to consult a PMD to make necessary adjustments to suit their requirements.
The ministry of social services has termed year 2007 as the “year of accessibility” paving the way for a model project of the Dehiwala and Mt. Lavinia municipal council and the public library. These are the first public institutions providing facilities to persons with mobility difficulty.
The Taj Samudra, Hilton, Galadari, HSBC branches in Negombo and flower road, Colombo and Mt. Lavinia post office are some of the buildings with design specifications for persons with mobility difficulty.
Two years ago Taj Samudra specially designed a room for persons with disability. A lowered card holder and peep hole, wider entrance doors and sliding bathroom doors also inclusive of a resident attendant are some of the unique facilities provided Srikanth Wakhakar Resident Manager of the Taj Samudra said.
“Disability is not decrease in ability” Dr. Perera said. Persons with mobility difficulty (PMD) can be people suffering from permanent (paralysis, arthritis, amputation, deaf, dumb, blind or partially colour blind, diabetes, spinal cord problems, polio patients, malaria patients) or temporary (fracture, muscle pull, back aches) mobility difficulty.
“We also pay tax and the government is responsible to provide accessible facilities for us, at least in government buildings” Deepa Palliyaguru a person with a disability to her leg said. The key factor in development and growth is to have a majority of people in a country actively contributing to the national grid or income. Independence is the foundation towards realizing this key factor.
The era in which socially deemed disable children are no more hidden from society, it took Sri Lanka a long time to come to understanding them and accepting them as part of society. For all the PMD’s sake let us make a conscious effort to help and show that it doesn’t take that long to make the changes and adjustments in buildings, keeping in mind the concept “Designing for inclusion”.
“The accident that alters your life happens to you at the most unexpected moment in your life”.
The realization that a simple activity like walking can become a luxury that no currency can buy. Disabled people, differently able people and now respectfully referred to as persons with mobility difficulty (PMD) can be people suffering from permanent (paralysis, arthritis etc) or temporary (fracture, muscle pull) mobility difficulty. PMD’s and their 21st century battle for independence is to achieve equal access to buildings and places.
“The soldiers of the armed forces told me that they don’t need sympathy, they only need opportunity” Dr. Ajith Perera an activist for persons with mobility difficulty said. The sympathetic image the electronic media is showcasing on persons with disability is not helping; instead they need to focus on their abilities in providing them with higher quality of life Dr. Perera also a member of the national council for the disable people added.
The criterion for disability is widespread in relation to the thinking of persons’ with mobility difficulty’ without limiting it to physical impairment. Over 30% of the total population of Sri Lanka has some sort of ailment limiting their mobility Dr. Perera said. Physical and mental impairment can also be triggered by an accident, aging or war situation resulting in an instant disability. “Sri Lanka is faced with an aged population” and the people with mobility difficulty is growing stressed Dr. Perera.
In the case of Mohammed Mussaddiq who suffered injuries to his spinal cord and is on a wheel chair for the rest of his life had to over come mental and physical difficulty that altered his life’s path forever. The mental crossover from being an able bodied person and now having to accept your permanent physical difficulties such as not being able to walk and drastic change in life style is a stiff challenge faced by an individual.
The morale of a PMD is further shattered when they are forced to live in an unfriendly physical environment being denied access to banks, post office, provincial secretary’s office, super markets, cinema halls, restaurants, public toilets etc. The physical environment in relation to the saying ‘can make or break their lives’ is the deciding factor for persons with mobility difficulty. The buildings and places that are accessible to an able person is an obstacle for persons with mobility difficulty. “I can’t go to the ATM and withdraw money, I have to get someone to do it” Mohamed Musaddiq a businessman, on a wheelchair due to a road accident said.
An able person believes he has a considerable understanding as to the difficulties in the life of a disabled person but “In reality they cannot begin to imagine the difference in walking, sleeping, eating, travelling etc” Deepa Palliyaguru a person with a permanent disability on her leg said. The simple activities in an able persons life, is tedious for persons with mobility difficulty she added.
“Our environs are disabled” depriving access to persons with mobility difficulty Viji Jegarajasingham the secretary of the ministry of social services said. The environment we live in is an obstruction for persons with mobility difficulty to independently carry out their day to day chores as paying bills, going to the bank, grocery shopping and going to the cinema etc.
The important factor of ‘equal access to all’ was overlooked by most property developers at the time of construction. In the concept of ‘universal design’ accessibility is given priority when developing a property. In accordance to ‘universal design’ the use of a ramp accompanied by hand bars is constructed in place of a fleet of stairs.
The ramp is further colour coded (eg; ramp in green and hand bar in yellow is painted) for the betterment of the partially blind people. And also wheel chairs need wider doors, fire proof lifts, elevated toilet facilities etc.
Blind people need elevators with voice recordings informing door movements and the floor number or a lift operator. This concept that needs to be incorporated when developing buildings and places will provide “access to physical environments, facilities and services” achieving to enable everyone equally Dr. Perera explained.
“The lack of knowledge to design for inclusion” is one of the main drawbacks when designing buildings suitable for PMD’s Dr. Perera said. The downfall of many organizations which proclaim that they have facilities for the PMD is that they fall short to satisfy the concerns of a person with mobility difficulty Dr. Perera said.
“Most of the Cargills outlets have ramps suitable for good trolleys, not for wheelchair users” he added. The architects don’t have the required knowledge and when they do they forget to consult a PMD to make necessary adjustments to suit their requirements.
The ministry of social services has termed year 2007 as the “year of accessibility” paving the way for a model project of the Dehiwala and Mt. Lavinia municipal council and the public library. These are the first public institutions providing facilities to persons with mobility difficulty.
The Taj Samudra, Hilton, Galadari, HSBC branches in Negombo and flower road, Colombo and Mt. Lavinia post office are some of the buildings with design specifications for persons with mobility difficulty.
Two years ago Taj Samudra specially designed a room for persons with disability. A lowered card holder and peep hole, wider entrance doors and sliding bathroom doors also inclusive of a resident attendant are some of the unique facilities provided Srikanth Wakhakar Resident Manager of the Taj Samudra said.
“Disability is not decrease in ability” Dr. Perera said. Persons with mobility difficulty (PMD) can be people suffering from permanent (paralysis, arthritis, amputation, deaf, dumb, blind or partially colour blind, diabetes, spinal cord problems, polio patients, malaria patients) or temporary (fracture, muscle pull, back aches) mobility difficulty.
“We also pay tax and the government is responsible to provide accessible facilities for us, at least in government buildings” Deepa Palliyaguru a person with a disability to her leg said. The key factor in development and growth is to have a majority of people in a country actively contributing to the national grid or income. Independence is the foundation towards realizing this key factor.
The era in which socially deemed disable children are no more hidden from society, it took Sri Lanka a long time to come to understanding them and accepting them as part of society. For all the PMD’s sake let us make a conscious effort to help and show that it doesn’t take that long to make the changes and adjustments in buildings, keeping in mind the concept “Designing for inclusion”.
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