The Government Information Center

Disabled Persons Desk

The legal issues arising out of being differently abled (disabled) are purely humanitarian and applies to all societies in the world. The disabled whether mental or physical, unless actively assisted are prevented from developing their full potential as human being. The differently able are also victims due to social prejudice against them.

The UN Convention on the rights of the disabled unanimously adopted by the UN general Assembly last week would be translated to Sinhala and Tamil for the benefit of the general public.

The Legal Aid Commission has set up the Disabled Persons Legal Aid Desk in order to ensure the following:-

• To help win the rights guaranteed to Disabled Persons under the Protection of Disabled Persons Rights Act No.28 of 1996.
• To provide free legal advice regarding maintenance, accident claims, loss of property and fundamental rights of destitute disabled persons.
• To create an awareness on the subject among community and school children on the rights of disabled persons.
• To launch joint programs in collaboration with the National Secretariat for Disabled Persons in the process of Disabled Persons Empowerment.

The Legal Aid Commission Disabled Desk with its 33 regional centers island wide conducted a number of programs to promote awareness among the community regarding the rights of the disabled and to stop discrimination of the disabled. Special programs were arranged to mark the “International Day of Disabled Persons”. A major focus of this day is practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and to further their participation in social life and development on the basis of equality

This Desk is headed by Attorney-at-Law, Kalani Medagoda who has conducted several programs to create awareness on the subject among community and school children on the rights of disabled persons who has also published a booklet on disabled persons.

Kalani Medagoda, AAL is also responsible for compiling the ‘Daily News Legal Aid Page’ for the past one year.

Procedure

Please follow the Common Procedure