The Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I am pleased to speak after my university colleague. He said we need an entrepreneurial state to remove regulatory stones from the path. True. But if we do not rescue our youth from the current drug menace, there will be no youth left. Do not belittle efforts against narcotics; doing so only aids drug dealers and those dragging youth into ruin.

¶ 02 Today, 21 November, is historic. Exactly a year ago, the National People’s Power, with over 6.9 million votes together with allies, defeated an entrenched authoritarian order and formed the Tenth Parliament’s Government. I salute the people.

¶ 03 As a member of this democratically formed Government, I am proud. Together with Hon. Dr. Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, we held sittings in Kilinochchi. A certain university lecturer posted that I am “just another slave.” If you say so, then yes—we are the Spartacus line of “slaves”: those who fight serfdom and predatory capitalism. Disability has created invisible shackles in our community; over the past year we have tried to break them. I extend respect to the Minister, State Minister, Secretary and officials leading this effort.

¶ 04 We are reforming the legal architecture. The draft to amend the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, to enhance rights beyond 25 areas, aligns with the UNCRPD; it also proposes the necessary state mechanisms to implement those rights. A comprehensive institutional framework is essential to liberate this community from the myriad challenges they face.

¶ 05 Policy and action plans are underway. The draft Bill will be presented to the National Council on the 24th and then to the Legal Draftsman and to this House. I trust Members across the aisle will raise both hands to pass this humane law to secure dignified lives for persons with disabilities. We seek an unobstructed social life for them, grounded in rights with appropriate welfare.

¶ 06 Contrary to criticisms, as Minister Upali Pannilage noted, we have significantly increased disability-related allowances—some by 150 percent, others by 25 percent—and expanded the number of beneficiaries substantially. But our intent is not to make persons with disabilities mere dependents; rather, to empower them toward economic prosperity through vocational training and employment placement via the Department of Social Services.

¶ 07 A key point: under current law, responsibility for vocationalizing persons with disabilities rests with the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities and our Ministry. The policy of reserving three percent of public service jobs for persons with disabilities was announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the last Budget. Implementing this is a cross-government duty—Public Administration, Labour, Industries, and others must ensure the three percent quota is realized. The President also invites the private sector, and the Government will pay 50 percent of salary up to LKR 15,000 per month for 24 months as an incentive. Funds have been allocated.

¶ 08 Another grave issue is the increase in children with developmental/intellectual disabilities. Significant funds have been allocated in this and last year’s Budgets to support care services, with our Department and other agencies active—aiming to support families, provide nutrition and protection to children, and enable parents to rejoin the labour force as active workers.

¶ 09 To social service officers: I know you have professional issues, but please go to persons with disabilities; recognize their pain. They did not choose disability. It is our duty to care, empower and integrate them. Our policy “Together, Without Leaving Anyone Behind” embodies this commitment. We will continue with greater intensity and speed to deliver dignity, development and economic productivity to this community. Thank you.