Tag Archives: #Polonnaruwa

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH TRAVEL

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 entrance.
Team members at the entrance
Manique near the Mandapaya
Manique near the Mandapaya
Team Members climbing the Stairs
Team Members climbing the Stairs
At the entrance
At the entrance
Manique near the Mandapaya
Manique near the Mandapaya
Nameboard
Nameboard
Stone Pillars
Stone Pillars
Nameboard
Nameboard
Stone Pillars
Stone Pillars
Climbing the stairs
Climbing the stairs

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

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.

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

ACCESS FOR ALL AT ELAHERA 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. 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.

Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha (Nameboard)
Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha (Nameboard)
Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha
Elahera Pradeshiya Sabha
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Team Members
Team Members
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Advocacy Meeting
Checking Accessibility
Checking Accessibility

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