Tag Archives: #2022

Hearing impaired children receive school books, equipment and uniforms to make the right to education a reality

The Sri Lanka Deaf Rehabilitation Organization’s annual Christmas and New Year celebration was held for the 20th time at the Public Library Auditorium, Colombo in December 2022.
The celebration was held in a grand manner with the participation of all the members and their families of the organization scattered all over the island and a group of special guests and invitees With the aim of raising the educational level of the hearing impaired children and the children of hearing impaired parents. The most unique aspect of this event was distribution of Gift parcel sets including school books, equipment and uniforms were given to all the children to start the new year with a smiling face. Ms. Manique Gunaratne, Ms. Harini Padmasiri, Ms. Geethika Sinhabahu, Ms. Rusiri De Silva and Mr. Windika Jayasinghe donated school books, stationary and other items required for these hearing impaired children to attend school to make the right to education for persons with #disability a reality.

Distributing packs to hearing impaired children.
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children.
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children.
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children.
Handing over the school books to the Secretary of the organization.
Handing over the school books to the Secretary of the organization.
Lighting the oil lamp
Lighting the oil lamp
Gift Packs
Gift Packs
Stage View
Stage View
Manique with a Participant
Manique with a Participant
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children
Distributing packs to hearing impaired children
Participants
Participants

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

VANITHABHIMANA 2022

Sri Lanka Vanithabimana 2022 Grand Finale was Held at BMICH coinciding with International Women’s Day, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). In March 2022. The Vanithabimana initiative introduced by NDB Bank in partnership with Sirasa News 1st, has become a platform for Sri Lankan female achievers who are fast breaking new ground. The platform is a national level program that has empowered and recognized female achievers across different sectors who directly or in directly contribute to the Sri Lankan economy.

One of the main aims of the program was to get women to participate in the modern marketplace and to encourage and facilitate their entry to it. The program also takes steps towards appreciating and felicitating those women who actively contribute to the economy and society.

The Grand Finale recognized the winners selected at a national level from the two main categories, namely the Provincial sector ( which included Entrepreneurship (small scale), Entrepreneurship (micro scale), Entrepreneurship (upcoming), Young leader, Environmental Management, Sports, Volunteer Services, Innovation, Literature and Education Services) and the Corporate & Professional Sector ( which covers sectors such as Human Resources, Financial Management, Sales and Marketing, Legal, State sector, Information Technology, Tourism, Art, Sports and Entrepreneurship). In addition, the Most Popular Woman in Sri Lanka award (selected based on SMS nominations from the general public) and the “Once in a Lifetime” Appreciation Award to 5 eminent veteran female personalities was presented at the event.

Manique Gunaratne was among the five finalists in the Information & Communication (ICT) category competing with persons with non-disabilities.

Presenting Awards
Presenting Awards
Group Dance
Group Dance
At the Audience
At the Audience
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
In front of the Flags
In front of the Flags
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
At the Red Carpet
At the Red Carpet
In front of the Flags
In front of the Flags
In front of the BMICH Fountain
In front of the BMICH Fountain
In front of Vanithabhimana Banner
In front of Vanithabhimana Banner
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
In front of the Building
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
At the BMICH
 In front of Vanithabhimana Banner
In front of Vanithabhimana Banner

At BMICH
At BMICH
Last Year Honorees
Last Year Honorees
At BMICH
At BMICH

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Blog: http://efcnetworkondisability.employers.lk/

BOOKS IN ACCESSIBLE FORMATS AT THE NOCHCHIYAGAMA PRADESHIYA SABHA LIBRARY

Negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities arise from a lack of understanding of disability and what it’s like to live in a world with individuals who do not share that experience. Therefore, disability accessibility initiatives greatly support to bring a change to create an inclusive approach.

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and  the European Union (EU) took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability #Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. This project is 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).

The team from EFC led by #Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did an disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Library in Anuradhapura district,  in North Central Province in December 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha Library  access for all and provided audio and e-books in May 2022 to make the Library Accessible for vision impaired persons.

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

Two Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Nochchiyagama Pradeshiya Sabha with persons with disabilities belonging to Nochchiyagama 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.

Handing over the audio and e-books to the Library
Handing over the audio and e-books to the Library
Installing the screen reader to the computer
Installing the screen reader to the computer
Discussion with the Authorities
Discussion with the Authorities
Discussion with the Authorities
Discussion with the Authorities
Checking audio and e-books in the computer
Checking audio and e-books in the computer
Discussion with the Authorities
Discussion with the Authorities
Reading E-books
Reading E-books
Discussion with the Authorities
Discussion with the Authorities
Team Members
Team Members

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Web: www.employers.lk

LIGHTING DIGITAL CAPACITY

Manique Gunaratne is engaged in inclusion of persons with #disabilities in the Lighting Digital Capacity Building Drive and regional development initiatives of ICTA for the citizen empowerment and youth sector. With the critical foundational work completed and multiple initiatives ongoing; ICTA plans to facilitate the adoption and rolling-out initiatives island-wide with a Regional Development Drive. 

The ICTA hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Forum at the Information & Technology Agency (ICTA) Auditorium in December 2022 for Citizen Capacity Building as part of the Lighting Digital National Forum. This offers a space for retrospect, the exchange of success stories, knowledge, problems, lessons learned, technological innovation, and other issues related to Citizen capacity building on digital transformation, the identification, and improvement of key initiatives for 2023, and the exploration of potential partner collaborations.

Lighting Digital Banner
Lighting Digital Banner
Manique with the Participants
Manique with the Participants
Manique with the Participants
Manique with the Participants
Manique with the Participants
Manique with the Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Mobile – 0094779571918

ACCESS FOR ALL AT DIMBULAGALA PRADESHIYA SABHA

People with disabilities are more likely than the general population to suffer anxiety, discomfort, and animosity. To a significant measure, such attitudes arise from a lack of understanding of disability and what it’s like to live in a world with individuals who do not share that experience. Therefore, this initiative greatly supported to bring a change to create an inclusive approach.

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and  the European Union (EU) took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. This project is 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).

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did an disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha, in Polonnaruwa district,  in North Central Province in January 2022 to give recommendations on how to make the Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha access for all.

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

2 Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha with persons with disabilities belonging to Dimbulagala 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.

 Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha
Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha
Group Photograph
Group Photograph
Manique at the PS
Manique at the PS
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Manique at the PS
Manique at the PS
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion
Advocacy Group Discussion

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon,
385 J3 Old Kotte Road,
Rajagiriya,
Sri Lanka.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022

Celebrating the International Day of Women is very important for women with disability to just as a woman but also a woman with a disability. It is a day that the entire world recognizes the plight of women and the efforts that have been channeled towards achieving gender equality. The 2022 theme for International Women’s Day was ‘Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ with the campaign #BreakTheBias. This theme speaks volumes to the challenges that women face and the immense potential that can be unlocked if we created a society that supports women empowerment and equality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day it is also very critical for us to acknowledge different realities for different populations of women. One of this population is women and girls with disabilities who face compounded vulnerabilities in the society for being of a female sex and also for having a disability. These vulnerabilities tend to increase depending on the social and economic factors. It’s for these reasons that girls and women with disability should be involved in the commemoration of Women’s Day and the fight for gender equity and equality.

Girls with disability can be involved in the celebrations of the International Women’s Day through self-advocacy to create awareness on the challenges and barriers they face and recommend solutions to those challenges. Self-advocacy is a very practical concept when it comes to raising awareness on disability issues as persons with disabilities are the experts of their different life experiences and empowering them to do self-advocacy is one of the right things to do.

Manique Gunaratne spoke on importance of including women with disability on International Day for Women at a program at Yarl TV in March 2022.

At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
At Yarl TV
At Yarl TV
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme
Speaking at the programme

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
BOARD MEMBER NAVAJEEVANA REHABILITATION

ACCESS FOR ALL AT MADIRIGIRIYA PRADESHIYA SABHA

Two Advocacy Group discussions were held at the Madirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha with persons with disabilities belonging to Madirigiriya 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. People with disabilities are more likely than the general population to suffer anxiety, discomfort, and animosity. To a significant measure, such attitudes arise from a lack of understanding of disability and what it’s like to live in a world with individuals who do not share that experience. Therefore, this initiative greatly supported to bring a change to create an inclusive approach.

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and  the European Union (EU) took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability #Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. This project is 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).

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did an disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Madirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha, in Polonnaruwa district,  in North Central Province in January 2022 to give recommendations on how to make the Madirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha access for all.

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

Medirigiya PS Nameboard
Medirigiya PS Nameboard
Team Members
Team Members
Manique in front of the main gate
Manique in front of the main gate
Advocacy group discussion
Advocacy group discussion
Advocacy group discussion
Advocacy group discussion
Accessibility checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility checking
Accessibility Checking
Advocacy group discussion
Advocacy group discussion
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Advocacy group discussion
Advocacy group discussion
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
Handing over a Braille calendar to a vision impaired person
Handing over a Braille calendar to a vision impaired person
 Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking
 Accessibility Checking
Accessibility Checking

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Manager – Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon

APSIG APRIGF APNIC IN SINGAPORE

Manique Gunaratne was a speaker at the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) 54, Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APRIGF) 2022, Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG) 2022 conferences held at the Grand Hytte Hotel  in Singapore in September 2022.

The events were organised by APNIC, the Regional Internet Registry for the Asia Pacific, in conjunction with APRIGF and APSIG.

The combined event was a summit comprising training workshops and conference sessions and which attracted hundreds of delegates and speakers from around the world. The technical workshops provided participants with hands-on training to build and manage Internet infrastructure. The conferences included technical sessions on topics such as IPv6, networking and security, Internet governance discussions, as well as community-driven Special Interest Group meetings on Internet numbers policy and Internet cooperation.

Further details about the conference can be found on the event website: https://conference.apnic.net/54/

Manique Gunaratne conducted sessions on “Inclusion of persons with disabilities in the ICT Job Sector”, “Accessibility, Diversity and the Digital Divide”, “Digital accessibility and connectivity for disabled students in higher education during COVID-19”, “Strengthening the Disability Voice in Internet governance” and “Inclusion and Tech”.

APRIGF – Manique with participants
APRIGF – Manique with participants
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique in the panel
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APRIGF – Manique presenting
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Manique in the panel
APSIG – Resource persons
APSIG – Resource persons
APSIG – Resource persons
APSIG – Resource persons
APSIG – at the conference
APSIG – at the conference

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Vice Chair Person – South Asian Disability Forum

BUILDING A RESPECTFUL AND INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY AT UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO

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 February 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.   

Participants
Participants
Gaining experience of a vision impaired person
Gaining experience of a vision impaired person
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Session in progress
Session in progress
Session in progress
Session in progress
Activity on experiencing a life of a person without both hands
Activity on experiencing a life of a person without both hands
Session in progress
Session in progress
Disability etiquettes session
Disability etiquettes session
Session in progress
Session in progress
Session in progress
Activity on experiencing a life of a vision impaired person
Activity on experiencing a life of a vision impaired person

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities