Traveling for persons with disabilities fosters inclusivity by challenging societal perceptions and raising awareness about disability-related issues. As they explore new destinations, they become ambassadors of accessibility, advocating for improved infrastructure, and promoting a greater understanding of diverse needs.
Manique Gunaratne gave the opportunity to a group of persons with disabilities to visit the Kantale Tank in Trincomalee district in November 2022.The Kantale Dam is a large embankment dam built in Kantale, Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka, used for irrigation. It is 14,000 ft (4,267 m) long, and over 50 ft (15 m) high. The dam impounds the Per Aru, a small river discharging into the Koddiyar Bay, at Trincomalee Harbour. The tank was built by King Aggabodhi II (604-614 AD) and further developed by King Parakramabahu the Great. It was also known as Gangathala Vapi at the time. The reservoir has a catchment area of 216 km2 (83 sq mi) and a capacity of 135 million cubic meters .
View of the tankView of the tankManique near the Kantale TankView of the tankNameboardTeam membersManique near the Kantale TankTeam membersSight seeing at the damSight seeing at the dam
The welfare benefits assessment led by the Welfare Benefits Board, is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank (WB). The Welfare Benefit Board has introduced a system to identify those in financial need amidst the current economic and political crisis. Accordingly, a QR code system has been developed for those that should register as beneficiaries of the welfare subsidy. All those registered will be assessed based on a set of 22 indicators – using a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) mode (digitized survey). This survey has been translated into local languages and digitized on Kobotoolbox platform using a customised application called Aswesuma.
The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) provided technical support to improve the survey tool, develop the training material and module and deliver the training required to administer the CAPI survey.
30 master trainers, who will act in the capacity of Trainer of Trainers (TOT) were trained on the questionnaire/survey by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) and on CAPI by the Welfare Benefits Board and CEPA.
Manique Gunaratne was one of the Master Trainers to support an inclusive approach to include persons with disabilities into the scheme. The master trainer pool then trained 330 Statistical Officers (SOs) and 660 Development Officers (DOs), who then trained 14,000 enumerators at each GN division. The role of the master trainers was to ensure that the survey purpose, indicator definitions and navigation and use of the CAPI /Aswesuma platform are transferred to the DCS officers – in both Sinhala and Tamil. These DCS officers acted in the capacity of trouble-shooters and first line of defence for the 14,000 enumerators. The training sessions were held at the BMICH, at the Department of Census & Statistics and at the CEPA office from October to December 2022.
Attending the sessionAttending the sessionParticipantsParticipantsParticipants
Participants
Attending the SessionAttending the Session
MANIQUE GUNARATNE Committee Member – SPRINT Committee of Family Planning Association
The University of Colombo conducted a series of trainings on Disability Awareness and Sensitization under the Faculty of Arts – AHEAD grant and implemented in collaboration with Centre for Disability Research Education and Practice (CEDREP) and the Staff Development Centre (SDC), University of Colombo for the non-academic staff in March 2022.
Ms. Manique Gunaratne conducted the sessions on how to provide:
Diversity of disability – varied lived realities of persons with disabilities.
The role of inclusive technology and assistive devices.
Inclusive language and terminology.
Building a respectful and inclusive university community by interaction, assistance, disability accommodation and socialization.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) have designed a series of awareness programmes to conduct in selected 12 districts to make the technical, senior staff and members of the Local Government Authorities to sensitise on accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. These programmes include persons with diverse disabilities, ways in which their physical and emotional well-being are fulfilled and legal aspects of accessibility to the built environment.
The objective of the initiative is to develop the capacity of local authorities and raise awareness among technical officers, Officials in the decision-making process, Engineers, Architects, and Officials in the Planning Divisions. It is expected that this intervention will ensure that people with disabilities can access all public buildings and make use of the facilities inside those buildings as Regulations are intended to be accomplished.
The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities conducted the Anuradhapura 1 training workshop at the Cooperative Training Resort in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in January 2022.
The project is a 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 680 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.
The “Disability Accessibility” project implemented by The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre is a part of an initiative supported under the Capacity Development of Local Governments (CDLG) project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka with the financial assistance of the European Union (#EU).
Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.
The importance of this workshop was that all resource persons were persons with disabilities. Manique Gunaratne conducted the session on “Technical specifications on accessibility” and Anil Seneviratne conducted the session on “law and access”. People with physical disabilities, hearing impaired persons and vision impaired persons spoke on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities and possible solutions.
Participants with non-disabilities got the opportunity to experience using a wheelchair, walking with a white cane, walking blind folded, wearing socks and shoes without using hands and communicating in sign language.
These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.
Commencement of the programmeCommencement of the programmeConducting the sessionConducting the sessionWay forward sessionConducting the sessionConducting the sessionParticipantsConducting the sessionConducting the sessionParticipantsConducting the sessionConducting the sessionActivity sessionQuestion and answer sessionGroup photograph
MANIQUE GUNARATNE Core Founder – Lanka School on Internet Governance
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 organization 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.
These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank. Disability inclusion is one of the key strategic priorities for UNDP Sri Lanka in keeping with the commitment of UNDP globally and the new initiatives of disability inclusion strategy and their commitment to leave no one behind.
A disability accessibility audit and advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Mannar Urban Council, and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Urban Council on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists at the Mannar Urban Council in Mannar district in Northern Province in April 2022. UNDP acknowledges the fact that disability is a crosscutting issue which needs a multi-stakeholder intervention including local government authorities.
Mannar Urban Council NameboardTeam MembersAdvocacy Group DiscussionChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityMannar Urban CouncilAdvocacy Group DiscussionChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group DiscussionManiqueChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group DiscussionAdvocacy Group DiscussionChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group Discussion
The team led by Ms. Manique Gunaratne of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre did a Disability #Accessibility #Audit to give recommendations to the Vavuniya South Tamil Pradeshiya Sabha in Vavuniya district in Northern Province of Sri Lanka in March 2022. The advocacy group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Vavuniya South Tamil 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.
These efforts are supported by the European Union, and the World Bank.
Team MembersChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy DiscussionChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy DiscussionChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy DiscussionChecking AccessibilityManique in front of the PSChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy DiscussionChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy DiscussionAdvocacy DiscussionHanding over Braille Calendar
MANIQUE GUNARATNE Board Member Navajeevana Rehabilitation
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 two 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 organization 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.
Polonnaruwa MC NameboardGroup PhotographChecking Accessibility Explaining accessibility recommendations Manique in front of the MC Advocacy Group DiscussionChecking Accessibility Advocacy Group DiscussionChecking Accessibility Advocacy Group DiscussionChecking Accessibility Advocacy Group DiscussionAdvocacy Group DiscussionChecking Accessibility Checking Accessibility Advocacy Group Discussion
Travel seeks to improve the self-management skills of people with disabilities in their daily routine, since the travelling and its planning are used as a tool to practicing in collaboration with the travel team to take a step forward. For example, emphasis is placed on the management of the finances available to the team for each trip, the creation of concept maps about “what, when and how to decide to participate in a leisure activity during the #travel ”, the preparation of materials adapted to people with diverse #disabilities.
Manique Gunaratne created an opportunity for a group of persons with disabilities to visit the Ibbankatuwa Cemetery in Dambulla of Mathale district May 2022.
Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Cemetery (also known as Ibbankatuwa Proto-historic Burial Site) is an ancient burial site situated in Dambulla in Matale District, Sri Lanka. Extended in an area of about 13 hectares, the site comprises a large number of burials in cists made of stone slabs dating to the 7th century B.C. The cemetery is considered the biggest and the best-preserved proto-historic burial site in the country.
The cemetery site is located on the left bank of the Dambulu Oya, a tributary of Kala Oya. It generally consists of stone cist type burial graves of the Megalithic tradition. The burial chambers are square and rectangular in shape and have been constructed by placing granite slabs vertically erected Several chambers were covered with capstones and some of them were visible on the surface even before the excavations. In 1984, surface explorations performed at the site exposed a few non-Brahmi symbols (pictograms) inscribed on three separate cist capstones
Large and small clay pots containing human ashes were found placed inside the chambers. Certain clay pots were cylindrical in shape and smaller containers were discovered inside some of these clay vessels. Some tombs consist of multiple urns. A few pots contained minute bone fragments but none of the tombs contained complete or partial skeletons.
During the excavations, a large number of beads made of minerals such as clay, carnelian, onyx, agate were found inside the chambers. A majority of beads discovered in Ibbankatuwa are said to be exotics that originated hundreds of miles away in peninsular India. Cloth pins, bangles, leaf-shaped diadem, and metal objects such as iron, copper alloy, and gold were among the other findings of Ibbankatuwa.
Pottery discovered from the siteBurial gardenInside the cemeteryAt the cemeteryTeam MembersGroup PhotographItems discovered from the site Direction name board Beads discovered from the site Beads discovered from the sitePottery discovered from the site
The University of Colombo conducted a series of trainings on Disability Awareness and Sensitization under the Faculty of Arts – AHEAD grant and implemented in collaboration with Centre for Disability Research Education and Practice (CEDREP) and the Staff Development Centre (SDC), University of Colombo for the academic staff in March 2022.
Ms. Manique Gunaratne conducted the sessions on how to provide:
Diversity of disability – varied lived realities of persons with disabilities.
The role of inclusive technology and assistive devices.
Inclusive language and terminology.
Building a respectful and inclusive university community by interaction, assistance, disability accommodation and socialization.
Conducting the sessionConducting the sessionActivity session on disabilityConducting the sessionParticipantsConducting the sessionConducting the sessionActivity session on disabilityConducting the sessionConducting the sessionParticipantsConducting the sessionActivity session on disabilityActivity session on disability
When persons with disabilities travel to another location, especially if it is unknown, you are forcing your brain to deal with a continuous problem-solving process and overcoming challenges. Traveling mainly requires learning and memorizing the unknown until it becomes normal and familiar. This is a challenge for the brain and is like intense training. It is important to train and stimulate the brain because, over time, the more connections mean the greater cognitive reserve, thus making your brain more resistant to age-related decline or the symptoms of neurological disorders.
Manique Gunaratne created the opportunity for a group of persons with disabilities to visit the Nishshanka Latha Mandapaya in Polonnaruwa in January 2022.
Nishshanka Latha Mandapaya is a unique structure in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. A màndapa is a pillared structure that is open on all sides and protects the person(s) inside from the sun with a roof. By definition, as of the 20th century, mándapas, as temporary structures, are built inside a house or a building and serve as recitation platform during remembrance ceremonies for the dead.
Built by King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) and named after him, it is located near the western entrance of the Dalada Maluva, the area that contains the oldest and most sacred monuments in the city. A nearby stone inscription identifies this as the building used by Nissanka Malla to listen to pirith (chanting of Buddhist scriptures)
The structure is an elevated stone platform with a number of stone columns and surrounded by a low stone wall. These stone columns are the unique feature about the Nissanka Latha Manadapaya, since they are carved in a manner that is found nowhere else in the country. The eight granite columns are arranged in two rows, with four in each row. Presumably used to support a roof, each of them is approximately 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m) in height. In each of these columns, the crown is carved in the shape of a blossoming lotus bud. The rest of the column is elaborately carved to resemble the stem of the flower.Unlike stone columns commonly seen in the architecture of this period, these are not straight, but are curved in three places. According to archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana, the stone columns at the Nissanka Latha Mandapaya are the best examples of this feature of ancient Sri Lankan architecture.
At the center of the platform, flanked by the stone columns, appears a small stupa. This is also made from stone, but the top part of it has been destroyed. Its base is decorated with a carved design. The platform is surrounded by a stone railing. The structure is entered through a single stone doorway. In contrast to the elaborately carved stone pillars, these have an undecorated and plain finish.
Team members at the entranceManique near the Mandapaya Team Members climbing the StairsAt the entranceManique near the MandapayaNameboardStone PillarsNameboardStone PillarsClimbing the stairs
MANIQUE GUNARATNE The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, 385 J3 Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.
