Shiranthi in Kuala Lumpur for International Autism seminar

Tuesday, 22 April 2014 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Bernama: Sri Lanka first lady Shiranti Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa has arrived in Kuala Lumpur to attend the International Autism Seminar 2014 Tuesday. She was met on arrival at the KL International Airport 6.45 am Monday by Education deputy minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching. Also expected to arrive today, at 2.10 pm, for the two-day seminar at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre is Sudan first lady Fatima Khalid Ahmad Al Bashir. The seminar organised by Program Permata with the cooperation of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and non-governmental organisation, Autism Speaks, would be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Themed, ‘Autism Is Not A Tragedy, Ignorance Is’, the seminar would be focusing on quality intervention for autistic children. It would also be the platform for implementation of the Permata Kurnia Program on early intervention for autistic children, in May next year. Among the speakers at the seminar expected to be attended by about 1,500 participants, are Prof Dr Eric Fomboune from Oregon Health and Science University, Prof Dr Cheryl Dissanayake (La Trobe University, Australia) and Dr Wu Ruth Yu Yu (Taipei Teachers University). Five women leaders would be sharing their experience in addressing the concerns of autistic children in their respective countries, at a special session during the seminar. Permata senior principal assistant secretary Mohd Zulhasmi Jamaluddin cited the first ladies of Sudan, Sri Lanka, Albania, Kyrgyzstan and Morocco. “The one-hour special session, ‘Addressing Autism: Country’s Experience’ would be chaired by National Council of Women’s Organisations, Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin,” he told Bernama. Mohd Zulhasmi said preparations for the seminar started last year with the cooperation of various parties. “Input from the seminar would help us set the Permata Kurnia Program in motion,” he said.