Sports meet for disabled held in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2004, 12:24 GMT]
"Civil society and public oganizations should co-operate to strengthen the skills of our disbled to facilitate participation and excel at a national level," said Vavuniya district Judge, M.Ilancheliyan, speaking at the third annual sports festival held at the Empowerment Campus for the Disabled in Vavuniya, sources said.

The President of the Social Economical and Environmental Developers (SEED) in Vavuniya, Mr. N. Singam, presided the event.

Vavuniya district Secretary of the Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations, N.Newton, Districts Deputy Planning Commissioner, S.Paramakulasingam, and NorthEast Commissioner of Social Services, Ms Ranjith Nadesapillai also spoke.

Mr.Ilancheliyan said: "United Nations has undertaken a World Programme of Action to enhance disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities, which pertains to full participation of persons with disabilities in social life and national development.

"Legal remedies are available to redress discrimination and harassment against disabled, especially with respect to denial of human rights.

"In the NorthEast several hundred people have been disabled due to the war. The disabled include civilians as well as fighting cadres. The Empowerment Campus serves as a motivating example for providing support for the disabled," added Mr.Ilancheliyan.

"Although Government of Sri Lanka should be responsible for the welfare of the disabled, it is facing severe financial difficulties in fulfilling its responsibilities. The SEED in Vavuniya has rendered admirable services to the disabled community in this district. We will work closely with SEED to ensure that the basic needs of the disabled are met," said Ms. Nadesapilliai.

At the conclusion of the meet, Mr.Ilancheliyan awarderd prizes for the winners.






United Nations General Assembly resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001 established an Ad Hoc Committee "to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on the holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development."

The third session took place from 24 May to 4 June 2004.

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