May 14, 2024
The SLFVH is affiliated to the World Blind Union (WBU) and the Asian Blind Union (ABU). The 3rd General Assembly of the Asian Blind Union was held in Sri Lanka from 22nd to 25th June 1995. 17 delegates from 10 countries participated at this Assembly and several important and far reaching recommendations were made. Mr. R.A.Sirisena, who has been the General Secretary of our Federation since 1994, has served as the Hony. Treasurer of the ABU since 1992. The Secretariat of the ABU was maintained in Sri Lanka from 1997 February to 2000 December. In February 1997 the World Blind Union held a meeting of its officers at the Ceylon Inter-Continental Hotel, Colombo. This meeting was attended by 13 delegates.
Initiatives are being made to establish links with the Christophel Blindenmission (CBM). They have shown interest to support a proposal for a Braille Book Production project and will be sending a representative for its appraisal in Sri Lanka.
Links with the International Conference on Education for the Visually Impaired (ICEVI) are also maintained, and the SLFVH was able to send Mr. R M H P Guneratne, the 2nd Vice President, to attend the Conference held in Ahmadabad, India, in 2000.
The SLFVH has received representation in the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, which has been established under act No. 28 of 1996 – the “Act of the Protection, Advancement and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. Mr. R A Sirisena, the General Secretary of the Federation, has been nominated as the delegate to the Council from the federation. This has given an opportunity to the SLFVH to contribute its views with regard to the needs of visually handicapped community in this country.
The Visually Handicapped Trust Fund, established on a proposal made by the members of the SLFVH has shown considerable growth. At present the VHTF grants assistance for self-employment projects housing construction, repairs and scholarships for students. It received financial assistance to purchase instruments for the SLFVH music project. The benefits of this fund are derived by other organisations of the visually handicapped as well and thereby rendering a service to the entire visually handicapped community in this country.
The Ministry of Social Services, the Dept. of social Services and the Lions Movement and other social service organisations such as the Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled at Seeduwa, work closely with the Foundation in serving the visually handicapped community.
In regard to the contributions of the Private Sector, the Ceylinco Sarana Fund of the Ceylinco Group, made a dream come true in spearheading the fund raising for the construction of the new building for the SLFVH. This level of involvement of the Sarana Fund in the activities of the SLFVH is possible due to the close relationship between the Chairman Ceylinco Group of Companies, Deshamanya Lalith Kotelawala, and our President, Mr. E.M. Navaratne Banda JPUM.
The first Women’s Forum of the Federation was started in 1991. At the beginning several programmes were initiated to improve the living conditions of the visually handicapped women who are members of this forum. Under the guidance of the Asian Blind Union the Women’s Forum was given a new boost and in 1998 a workshop and seminar was held in New Delhi for the visually handicapped in SAARC countries. The current membership of the Forum is 180. Awarding scholarships to children of blind parents and granting assistance for self employment are some for the key activities of this forum. In 2002 a leadership training programme for blind women was held in Colombo with the sponsership of the ABU. In June The Women’s forum conducted its own Leadership Training Programme for young blind women.
According to the Federation President Mr. E.M. Navarathne Banda they welcome any assistance from Volunteer Eye Specialists to attend the Clinic on a regular basis to examine those with complicated eye ailments so that these patients could then if necessary be directed to Specialist care at Government Eye Hospitals.
Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped