2026-03-24
News Categories : Committee News
Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, stated that disability should be viewed not only from a medical perspective but also from social and human rights perspectives. He made these remarks while participating in an awareness programme on service delivery for persons with disabilities, held on 20th March 2026, at the auditorium of the National Epilepsy Centre of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL).
Although Sri Lanka has made some progress in this area compared to other countries in the region, he noted that persons with disabilities still face numerous physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers when accessing healthcare services. He emphasized that the government is committed to implementing necessary policy changes to identify social barriers, enhance awareness, and bring about attitudinal change. He also highlighted the importance of providing health information in multiple accessible formats for persons with disabilities.
The Deputy Minister further stressed the importance of systematically sensitizing healthcare staff to deliver services based on equality and dignity, going beyond the traditional medical model. He also appreciated the contribution made by the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities in this regard.
This programme was the second in a series of awareness programmes conducted at the ministry level as part of the action plan of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities. The workshop aimed to educate officials on inclusive service delivery within the health sector and was organized by the Caucus with the support of the Australian Government and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, stated that this series of awareness programmes is a step towards ensuring an “unrestricted social life” for persons with disabilities. While appreciating the country’s free healthcare system, he pointed out that more than 1.6 million persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka still face physical and attitudinal barriers in accessing healthcare services. He emphasized that access to healthcare is a fundamental right linked to the right to life.
He further proposed that a new perspective on disability, along with a specialized module, should be included in the curricula of medical and nursing colleges to ensure that future healthcare professionals are sensitized from the early stages of their training.
Deputy Co-Chair of the Caucus, Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam, President of the Disability Organizations Joint Front (DOJF), Ashoka Weerawardena, Professor Chamari Weeraratne of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Colombo, Deputy Director General of Health Services (Public Health), Dr. Vindya Kumarapeli, Director of the Youth, Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Unit of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nishani Ubeysekara and representatives of the disabled community also shared their views.
Several key issues were raised during the discussion, including the lack of sign language interpreters at hospital counters, difficulties faced due to high counters and surgical beds, the absence of toilets with commode facilities, and privacy concerns caused by “saloon-style doors” in accessible toilets. The need for priority identification cards for persons with intellectual disabilities who find it difficult to wait in queues was also highlighted.
Officials noted that steps are being taken to develop infrastructure under World Bank and Asian Development Bank assistance, including accessibility features such as ramps, accessible toilets, and dedicated pharmacy counters. It was also revealed that pilot “Support Centers” staffed with personnel trained in basic sign language are being planned for primary hospitals.
At the conclusion of the programme, it was proposed that persons with disabilities themselves should be employed at these Support Centers to ensure more effective, experience-based service delivery. Agreement was reached to take prompt follow-up action within the Ministry of Health on practical recommendations related to staff sensitization and the standardization of infrastructure.
The programme was attended by officials of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, Programme Officer of IFES Ms. Anojitha Sivaskaran and other representatives of the organization, as well as representatives from institutions and organizations working with persons with disabilities.
2026-05-26
The Central Provincial Council was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to examine the Auditor General’s triennial report for the years 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s report for 2024, and the Council’s current performance.The committee meeting, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, was held recently at Parliament.During the meeting, attention was drawn to the progress made in implementing recommendations issued at the COPA meeting held on 5th September, 2019. Discussions focused on the incident involving the destruction of files belonging to the Central Provincial Passenger Transport Authority.It was revealed that directives issued by the relevant court and the Presidential Secretary regarding the incident had not been implemented by the responsible authorities. In this regard, the Committee Chairman instructed officials of the Central Provincial Council to submit all reports and correspondence related to the incident to the committee.In addition, the committee discussed an incident involving the unlawful transfer of a rest house owned by the Road Development Authority to a third party in violation of lease conditions. Accordingly, the Chairman instructed officials to identify the officers responsible for making the relevant decisions and to submit a report to the committee on the legal action being taken in connection with the matter.The committee also held extensive discussions on irregularities identified by the National Audit Office in road development and passenger transport services in the Central Province, as well as issues affecting the health sector.Expressing his views during the meeting, the Chairman emphasized the importance of expediting ongoing investigations within institutions and focusing on follow-up action. He further stressed that if a state institution generates profits, such profits should accrue to the government, and if such revenue is used for institutional activities, established legal provisions and procedures must be strictly followed.The meeting was attended by committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Sunil Rathnasiri, Oshani Umanga, Susantha Kumara Navarathna, Ajantha Gammeddage, Chanaka Madugoda, T.K. Jayasundara and Lal Premanath along with a group of government officials.
2026-05-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, recently sought views from the Attorney General’s Department and members of the Election Commission.The discussion took place when the committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Attorney General’s Department briefed the committee on the existing legal obstacles to holding Provincial Council elections and the possible ways in which such obstacles could be removed to facilitate the conduct of the elections.The Election Commission informed the committee that it is prepared to conduct Provincial Council elections at any time under the legal provisions enacted by Parliament based on the committee’s recommendations.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Arun Hemachandra, Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law and Muneer Mulaffer as well as committee members Hon. Members of Parliament Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe and Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi. The committee member M. Nizam Kariapper, P.C also participated virtually.
2026-05-25
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to examine the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the girl involved in the sexual abuse incident reported from the Anuradhapura area.This decision was taken during the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting chaired by Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, held in Parliament today (May 25). Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 05.06.2026 with the participation of relevant institutions including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.In addition to the incident, which has generated significant public concern, the discussion is also expected to focus extensively on strengthening the laws and empowering the institutions required to prevent all forms of violence against women and children.Meanwhile, it was also decided to appoint a subcommittee under the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to oversee the future legal proceedings relating to the Anuradhapura girl’s case and to identify the institutional and legal reforms required in the country to eliminate violence against women and children.The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Hon. Members of Parliament Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella. The other members of the subcommittee will be Hon. Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-05-25
The progress of implementing the new education reforms was reviewed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi. During the meeting held in Parliament on the 19th, extensive discussions were held on the implementation of the new education reforms.Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, briefed the committee on the manner in which the new education reforms are being implemented.The meeting was attended by Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, committee members, provincial education secretaries, school principals, and several other officials.
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