Excerpts of discussions with Dr Perera

For a dis-abled person - a Wheelchair user in particular - especially for those with hardly any resources, to pursue a legal battle as of a Public Interest Litigation, at a Court in Sri Lanka over extended periods of time is often a nightmare.

As such it prompted us to contact (with much difficulty) Dr Ajith Perera The Petitioner - to know what really inspired him to fight such a battle, amidst his own daunting daily struggles as a now unemployed paraplegic - now also a Senior Citizen.

Here below are excerpts of a discussion we had with Dr Perera, based on the contents of his Petition, Motion and Affidavits AND the outcome of the Court Hearing dated October 04, 2018.

“Life is all about accessibility to what YOU need day-to-day. Accessibility, hence, is fundamental and indispensable.

Its continual denial causes loss of earning opportunities, unwanted dependency, poverty and segregation. Rules are man-made BUT should bring fast redress to the helpless victims, not kill time as violators want.

Rightly, people are outraged at continual poor accessibility at buildings and facilities as they are often a potential threat to most senior citizens and those with limited mobility or/and visually impaired.

BUT the real significant improvement will come ONLY when people’s attitudes change. The way people think and believe has the most dis-abling impact on individuals, on society and a country.

Understanding key issues causing disability is a prerequisite to change.

It is one key reason I founded IDIRIYA in 2005 April; To put a lot of time and effort AS A TEAM to play a fundamental role to enable changing people’s minds, trying to achieve A WORLD without PREJUDICE. Acts, Regulations, Laws and Persuasions are essential and indispensable.

But, STILL, in this Country more than any of them, it is Orders of national interest issued by the Highest and Final Court - The Supreme Court - that inspire trust, boost confidence, infuse hope, generate respect and give that much needed IMPETUS to BRING A CHANGE IN PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES and thereby enable to propel MEANINGFUL IMPLEMENTATION” .

‘That is why, amidst growing hardship from many sides simultaneously, I am back here to re-start from where I stopped in 2013”.

The real significant improvement will come ONLY when people’s attitudes change