Tag Archives: Maniquegunaratne

VANITHABHIMANA 2022

February 26, 2023 Manique

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.

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

Specialised Training

SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITY

June 7, 2022 Manique

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre together with Manchester International conducted a Soft Skills Development training for women titled “Fem Train” from September to November 2021. The “Fem Train” programme included women with disabilities. Women with disabilities were trained in soft skills to develop their employability skills.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Steering Committee Member – International Labour Organisation Global Business Disability Network

Employment for Persons with Disabilities

EMPLOYMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

May 21, 2022 Manique

Established in 1929, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) is the national employers’ organisation in Sri Lanka. Over the years, we have committed ourselves to adapting to the requirements of a dynamic membership to promote productive employment and social harmony.
The Employers Network on Disability was formed by the EFC with the objective of facilitating employment and training opportunities for persons with disabilities in the private sector. Officially launched in 1999, the initiative was supported by the International Labour Organisation. Since then the network is actively serving its purpose by strengthening the link between organisations dealing with disability-related issues, the business community and persons with disabilities.

The Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre was established in 2009 with the objective of training persons with diverse disabilities and developing their employability skills. We play a key role in advocacy and lobbying for the rights of persons with diverse disabilities and our aim is to promote inclusive economic development in all parts of the country thus creating long term sustainable employment and livelihoods for persons with disabilities.

Coats Thread Exports PLC, a member company of EFC provides employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Ms. Pramokshi Fernando with a physical disability was recruited making Coats Thread Exports PLC an inclusive workplace in 2021.

**Discussion on employment opportunity**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NUWARAGAM PALATHA EAST PRADESHIYA SABHA

May 2, 2022 Manique

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Nuwaragam Palatha East Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Nuwaragam Palatha East Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Nuwaragam Palatha East 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.

Team at the Reception Area — **The team at the Reception Area**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Committee Member – SPRINT Committee of Family Planning Association

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT RAMBAWA PRADESHIYA SABHA

April 27, 2022 Manique

The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Rambawa Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services that already exist.

**Recommending accessibility at the entrance**

**Recommending accessibility in the office area**

**Recommending Accessibility at the Main Gate**

**Recommending accessibility at the Library**

**Accessibility checking in the pathway**

Recommending accessibility in office area — **Recommending accessibility in the office area**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Vice-Chair Person – South Asian Disability Forum

Specialised Training

MAKE YOUR ORGANIZATION A FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

April 1, 2022 Manique

Watch the Video at:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cgAUu93LzoY&feature=share

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
385 J3, Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NUWARAGAM PALATHA CENTRAL PRADESHIYA SABHA

March 1, 2022 Manique

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. As a result, in Sri Lanka, collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre took the initiative to implement a project to provide recommendations on Disability Accessibility and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. The team from EFC led by Manique Gunaratne which included persons with diverse disabilities did disability accessibility checking to give recommendations at Nuwaragam Palatha Central Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Nuwaragam Palatha Central Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group Discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Nuwaragam Palatha Central 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.

**Sign language interpretation at the Advocacy Group Discussion**

**Advocacy Group Discussion with Sign Language interpretation**

**Recommending accessibility for hearing impaired persons in the library**

**Recommending accessibility for hearing impaired persons in the pathway**

**Recommending wheelchair and vision-impaired accessibility at the entrance**

**Recommending accessibility for vision impaired persons in the library**

**Recommending pathway accessibility for vision impaired persons**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Country Representative – World Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals’ Association (WDRPA)

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT ANURADHAPURA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

February 19, 2022 Manique

People with disabilities are more likely to suffer anxiety, discomfort, and animosity than the general population. 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. As a result, in Sri Lanka, collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre took the initiative to implement a project on Disability Accessibility Audit and Capacity Building of Local Government Authorities in Sri Lanka. The audit team from EFC led by #Manique Gunaratne, which included persons with diverse disabilities, did a disability accessibility audit at Anuradhapura Municipal Council (MC), in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Anuradhapura Municipal Council access for all.
Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Anuradhapura MC and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Municipal Council on how to have an inclusive approach when providing services which already exists.

Hearing impaired person checking accessibility — **Hearing-impaired person checking accessibility**

**Checking accessibility in the library**

**Checking accessibility in the study area**

**Checking accessibility at the library**

**Checking accessibility in the pathway**

Manique Gunaratne
Member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities

Women with Disabilities

LEO CLUB INCLUDES WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

November 9, 2021 Manique

Watch the Video at: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eICe45Yx4Sw&feature=share

Manique Gunaratne
Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre

Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities

ASSISTIVE DEVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO SUPPORT LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES

November 1, 2021 Manique

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Specialised Training & #Disability Resource Centre trains persons with disabilities to develop their employability skills and support them in livelihood activities by providing assistive devices. The software and assistive devices unit took another initiative to sponsor a wheelchair to a wheelchair user in a very remote area in Rajanganaya in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka. The wheelchair was sponsored by Ms Randima Attygalle and her team. These wheelchairs are manufactured by Rehab Lanka. These wheelchairs are manufactured by persons with diverse disabilities and given to persons with disabilities to be independent in their day to day activities. Sumith met with an accident by falling from a tree and becoming a wheelchair user. With the support of this wheelchair, he will promote his livelihood activities. Sumith is an entrepreneur with a disability who manufactures coconut ikle brooms and spoons. Sumith manufactures these products at his residence. He has a small shop by the side of the main road. He uses this specially designed wheelchair to sell his products.

Manique Gunaratne
FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000521211893