‘Outstanding Achiever’ Rotary Award presented to Dr. Ajith Perera

The Annual Conference 2017 of the Rotary District 3220 that includes Sri Lanka and the Maldives was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.

Rtn. Barry Rassing, a member of the board of trustee of the Rotary Foundation representing the President of Rotary International Rtn. John F. Germ, was the chief guest at this event. 

It was a distinguished gathering of local and foreign dignitaries including Immediate Past Rotary International President K. Ravindran and key leaders of Rotary Clubs Island wide.

‘The Outstanding Achiever’ lifetime award of the Rotary District 3220 was presented to the eminent Sri Lankan and Accessible Rights Activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera.

This award was made in recognition and appreciation of his exceptional positive contributions to bringing lasting change in the community, undeterred by his personal adversity, playing voluntarily eight different roles over 17 consecutive years to promote Accessibility Rights, focusing on enhancement of the quality of daily life of people of all abilities.

Rotary, with the motto Service above Self, is a global network of 1.2 million members in 35,000 plus clubs who have come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad.

This year’s programme was organised by a special committee under the leadership of the District Governor 2016/17 Senake Amerasinghe. A Paul Harris Fellow, he is the Chairman Carmart and also the Honorary Consul for Austria. 

Achiever’s award recipient

A large wayside tree in the vicinity of the UN compound in Colombo 7 crashed on Perera’s moving car in November 1992, leaving him instantaneously a paraplegic for life!

Perera has turned this misfortunate into a marvellous crusade with lasting impact for the physically dis-advantaged people of Sri Lanka.  

He has contributed significantly to improving so many unknown human lives, very much in keeping with “Rotary Serving Humanity”.

Three international bodies have accepted Perera as a Fellow, two international bodies have awarded him Chartered status and four further world organisations promoting accessibility have afforded him Full Membership. 

Perera has defied convention to break away from the shackles of traditional roles of a scientist to be an outstanding achiever – even as a wheelchair user.

Since 1998 – as the pioneer activist – he has aggressively promoted the two concepts: Accessible Sri Lanka for All and Accessible Tourism for Everyone (ATE).

In 2007 Perera was instrumental in establishing the first Sri Lanka Standard for design in building construction: SLS ISO TR 9527:2006.

In 2010, he represented Sri Lanka at the International Congress on Standards in Geneva Switzerland organised by the International Organisation for Standardisation – ISO.

His successful challenge to the Government in the Supreme Court achieved a landmark order in 2011 April requiring access to buildings the public needs to use in daily life.  

But still, there is much here for the State to initiate and do faster.

Overlooked UN Convention

Last year Sri Lanka ratified the International Human Rights Treaty of the United Nations (CRPD) to protect the rights and dignity of persons with RESTRICTED ABILITY and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law.

Implementation of the CRPD is also necessary for Sri Lanka to win back GSP Plus.

The Convention stresses that persons with disabilities should be able to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. 

Accessibility is one of the eight guarding pillars forming the backbone of this convention.

To promote and make the concept Accessible Sri Lanka a meaningful reality, is an indispensable part of the economic and social development plans of Sri Lanka.

UN Convention’s ARTICLE 8 requires State Parties to undertake immediate, effective and appropriate measures to recognise the abilities and outstanding contributions made by persons with dis-Abilities and thereby create and promote a positive image of them – especially as they are an estimated 20% of the population. 

The UN convention emphasises periodic progress by States. 

This is hence an essential prerequisite by the State that will NOT need any new legislation or additional costs and thereby is easy to implement.

Although it is a low-cost feasible investment with rich dividends to the Government and the country, this is yet being overlooked. 

Perhaps it was the first time that a social organisation in this country have taken the initiative befittingly to recognise an eminent professional with significant restrictions on his physical ability  for his outstanding pioneer contributions made over two decades in positively impacting society.