Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stressed that a thriving nation and a beautiful country cannot be defined solely by economic development, emphasizing the importance of building a society that cares for, accepts and respects everyone.
“A thriving nation and a beautiful country are not defined solely by economic development. Lives become better when we build a society that cares for, accepts and respects everyone,” the Prime Minister said.
She made the remarks at a ceremony held at Temple Trees to recognise Girl Guides who received the “Blue All Round Cord”, the highest award presented by the Differently Abled Branch of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, which is marking its centenary.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya said disability or special needs should never become a barrier to a child’s future, adding that the Government is committed to creating an inclusive society where everyone has equal opportunities.
She said the government has already launched several programmes aimed at empowering persons with disabilities, including measures to improve access to education, assistive technology and other essential facilities.
Under the first phase of one such programme, arrangements have been made through the President’s Fund to provide a special allowance of Rs. 100,000 each to university students with disabilities pursuing higher education.
The Prime Minister also said more than Rs. 37.4 billion has been allocated for persons with disabilities and their families, while Rs. 10 million has been allocated to formulate a National Policy on the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and implement community-level programmes.
She noted that accessibility for students with disabilities is also being considered under a three-year hostel development project covering 16,000 university students.
The government has further initiated programmes to provide assistive technological devices and digital educational materials for children with disabilities, while steps are being taken to remove barriers to university, vocational and tertiary education.
Addressing concerns among parents about the future of children with disabilities, the Prime Minister said creating an environment that enables them to develop the skills and economic foundation needed to live independently is a key responsibility.
“Success is not determined by the barriers we have to face; rather, it is determined by the courage with which we confront those barriers,” she said, adding that society has much to learn from children with disabilities about empathy, self-confidence and courage.
