Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Monday, 5 November 2012 11:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Enable the Disabled (ETD) concluded its third ETD National Dirijaya Awards ceremony successfully on the 19 October. The occasion was graced by key dignitaries, Chief Guest John Rankin, High Commissioner for UK in Sri Lanka, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandamithra Ekanayake, and Caroline Baker, Chief – Child Protection of UNICEF.
Among other guests who attended the ceremony were members of the corporate sector, NGOs, INGOS, the Chartered Management Institute – UK, Sri Lanka and The Management Club.
Enable the Disabled was initiated as a major CSR program of The Management Club in its early years although it is now an independent program guided by the Board of Management of The Management Club (TMC).
As in the past two Dirijaya Awards ceremonies, at this occasion too, ETD publicly recognised and rewarded disabled achievers in several spheres with Special Awards.
The winners of the Senior Category Awards:
Professional Excellence : Winner R.M.T.N. Bandara; First Runner up: Manique Gunaratne/Second Runner up: Prasanna Lal Tennekoon
Winners of the Junior Category awards:
Whilst all winners were well applauded for overcoming their disability with achievements to be proud of, standing ovations were given to National Hero Pradeep Sanjeewa, Mekala Gamage for her contribution to the performing arts (blind singer with a brilliant voice who also gave a performance at the awards ceremony) and to little Rashmi Nimeesha (who overcame her disability to receive wonderful results at the Grade Five Scholarship examination , writing with her foot instead of her hands).
ETD President Charmaine Vanderhoeven, in her welcome address, stated: “The attitude and mindset of society must change. We need more support and recognition from the corporate sector to open their doors to employment opportunities, and give the disabled an opportunity within their limits to perform. Sadly it is still a few corporates who have woven this side of CSR into their company policies, maybe because they have to do it due to the international affiliations that demand certain criteria involving disability.”
Speaking at the event, British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka John Rankin referred to a most recent event, the London Olympics, where around 3,500 persons with disabilities had vied to join the competition, with disability related organisations around UK paying special attention to the design of the Olympic venue to facilitate disability needs.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandamithra Ekanayake commented that people with special needs had the inner capacity to achieve more than those without disability, a statement echoed by the ETD committee. Ekanayake also commiserated on the number of persons who ended up with disabilities as a result of the protracted war in Sri Lanka.
ETD provides encouragement and emotional support to all such persons through the Dirijaya Awards. In the words of a recipient: “We do not need sympathy, we need empathy and to be treated as equal human beings…”
Following on the response received by the award winners and participants, ETD envisages taking the Dirijaya Awards to the north and east and including more junior achievers to give them the opportunity and confidence to prove their abilities and gain recognition.
Let not the sun go down on them. This world is theirs as much as it is ours!
