Living with a disability often involves coping with psychological barriers stemming from self-doubt and fear of judgment. By traveling, individuals can confront these barriers, experiencing a sense of liberation as they realize their disability does not define their potential.
Manique Gunaratne created the opportunity for a group of persons with disabilities to visit the Raja Sabha Mandapaya in Polonnaruwa in June 2023.
Built by King Parakramabahu this structure is situated in front of the #palace. Built on 3 layers of solid rock, the border of the first layer is decorated with carved elephants each in a different posture. Second layer border is carved with figures of lions and the last layer with images of “wamana”.
The entrance to the building is through two beautifully carved lions. The roof has been supported by 48 beautifully carved stone pillars laid in 4 rows. To the south-east of the court there can see the remains of an ancient toilet.
Front viewBeside the stone pillarsFront viewFront viewFront viewTeam MembersAt the Raja Sabha MandapayaAt the Raja Sabha MandapayaAt the Raja Sabha MandapayaAt the Raja Sabha MandapayaTeam Members
MANIQUE GUNARATNE Manager – Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
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
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.
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 andCapacity 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 SabhaGroup PhotographManique at the PSChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group DiscussionChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group DiscussionManique at the PSChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityChecking AccessibilityAdvocacy Group DiscussionAdvocacy Group Discussion
MANIQUE GUNARATNE The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, 385 J3 Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka.
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 NameboardTeam MembersManique in front of the main gateAdvocacy group discussionAdvocacy group discussionAccessibility CheckingAccessibility CheckingAdvocacy group discussionAccessibility CheckingAccessibility CheckingAdvocacy group discussionAccessibility CheckingAccessibility CheckingAccessibility CheckingHanding over a Braille calendar to a vision impaired personAccessibility CheckingAccessibility Checking
MANIQUE GUNARATNE Manager – Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
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, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), the 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 Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha, in Polonnaruwa district, in North Central Province in January 2022 to give recommendations on how to make the Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Elehara 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.
