Tag Archives: #SriLanka

Library Conference – VICLIS 2021

June 26, 2022 Manique

Sri Lanka Technological Campus hosted its first-ever virtual international conference on Library and Information Science (VICLIS2021) in collaboration with the department of library and information science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, National Science Library, and Resource Centre of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, and the Department of Library and Information Science University of Kerala, India. The conference was held in August 2021, under the theme of ‘Challenges of Library and Information Science Profession in New Normal Context.

The VICLIS2021 aimed to bring together the Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals, researchers, and LIS students to exchange and share their experiences and research findings on all aspects of Library Science. This FREE conference also provided a premier interdisciplinary platform for 104 research presenters from over 10 countries to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Library Science.

The chief guest of the event was Mrs. Christine Mackenzie, the President of the International Federation of Library Association and Institution, IFLA. Keynote speeches were delivered by Prof.Anne Goulding, Professor of Library and Information Management, School of Information Management, Victoria University, New Zealand and Dr. Raymond Pun, President of the Asia Pacific American Librarians Association, APALA.

Ms. Manique Gunaratne Conducted the session “Library Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities”.

The Founder President and the CEO of the SLTC stated in his welcome address that the VICLIS2021 is a landmark event hosted by SLTC as this is the very first conference on Library and Information Science organized by a Non-State Higher Educational institution in Sri Lanka.

There were nine (9) technical sessions conducted under nine (9) timely sub-themes at the conference. Over 350 participants from 17 countries have participated in the conference.

**Conducting the session on Library access for persons with disabilities**

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Committee Member – SPRINT Committee of Family Planning Association

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT THALAWA PRADESHIYA SABHA

June 23, 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, 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 Thalawa Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura district, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Thalawa Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Thalawa 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 exist.

MANIQUE GUNARATNE
Advisory Board Member – 18+ Alliance for Care Leavers (SOS Children’s Village)

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

ACCESS FOR ALL AT KAHATAGASDIGIRIYA PRADESHIYA SABHA

May 15, 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, 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 Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha, in Anuradhapura District, in North Central Province in November 2021 to give recommendations on how to make the Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha access for all. Two Advocacy Group discussions were held with persons with disabilities belonging to Kahatagasdigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha and staff members (persons with non-disabilities) of the Pradeshiya Sabha on having an inclusive approach when providing services which already exist.

**Accessibility checking at the reception**

**Accessibility checking along the ramp**

Small Group Advocacy Discussion — **Small-Group Advocacy Discussion**

Wheelchair user checking accessibility of the ramp — **Wheelchair user checking the accessibility of the ramp**

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

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

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

DISABILITY ACCESSIBILITY

April 17, 2022 Manique

Watch the Video at:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=O5oW568IbPY&feature=share

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

Rights of Persons with Disabilities

RISE UP SRI LANKA BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

May 27, 2021 Manique

Watch the video at:
https://youtu.be/wU1qnr7HrTs

Manique Gunaratne
Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon

Specialised Training, Women with Disabilities

PROMOTING INCLUSIVE GBV SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSES

May 27, 2021 Manique

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre organised a programme on Mobilizing Women Leaders with #Disabilities for Inclusive Responses to Gender-Based Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Province in January 2021. The programme was organised with the support of the “We for Our Rights” organisation in the Kandy district. The programme was held at the Centre for Handicapped in Kandy. These provincial-level programmes aim to build or strengthen partnerships between non-disability specific development organizations, government, and women leaders with a disability to promote inclusive GBV services and programmes in COVID-19 pandemic responses.

**The Group at the End of the Training**

**The Project Team with the Sign Language Interpreter**

**Sexually Transmitted Diseases Session**

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