A new publication by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), Colombo, discusses the disability policy in the country to enable informed decisions by decision makers. Titled ‘Disability Policy Brief for Law Makers, Administrators and other Decision Makers’, the book authored by Padmani Mendis and Binendri Perera is available in all three languages.
Sri Lanka has had a Rights-based National Policy on Disability since 2003. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was ratified by Sri Lanka in 2016. A National Action Plan on Disability was approved in 2014 to implement these and two National Human Rights Action Plans (2011 - 2015 and 2016 - 2020) have included provisions on disability.
This publication is meant to be used by lawmakers, administrators and other senior decision-makers to assist them in deciding on appropriate rights-based policies and how these may be implemented. It informs persons with disabilities and all interested parties about the current status of the ongoing Dialogue on Disability Rights. It aims to further enhance continuing discourse, discussion, debate and consensus leading to action that will draw closer the realisation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Sri Lanka.