The visually impaired to boycott elections

The Collective of Unemployed Visually impaired Persons says that past Governments have disregarded demands put forward by it since 2013 to provide employment to those visually impaired

Due to the fact that any Government hasn’t paid attention to the demands of the 1.7 million disabled persons in this country, a decision has been taken by visually impaired individuals to boycott the forthcoming local government elections. This was confirmed by the Chairman of The Collective of Unemployed Visually-impaired Persons H.M.Lal Pushpakumara at a special news briefing held in Dambulla recently.  

Pushpakumara further said, “There are about 70 visually impaired graduates in this country. In addition to this number there are about 30 graduates who are expected to complete their degrees in the near future. These graduates are in a very embarrassing position because none of the political authorities has paid any attention to the demands put forward by us to provide employment to those visually impaired since 2013”.  

He said that a programme is being implemented to obtain some sort of relief. They hope to express their grievances with the blessings of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy to the Prelates of Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters. According to him, there has been negligence on the part of Government officers in discharging their duties on behalf of these graduates. This is in spite of the fact that they had obtained their full qualifications. Many believe that great injustice has been caused to these graduates.   
A member of this collective, Madhushanka said, “Due to the reason that any Government has not focused its attention on the clever disabled persons, they are in a very embarrassing situation. Regardless of whether they are visually impaired or disabled, they are not ready to beg from people. Therefore, we request the Government to provide them with employment in keeping with their physical condition and education”.  

He further said that they requested all disabled persons, numbering 1.7 Million, to refrain from casting their votes at the forthcoming elections in order to create awareness among the entire disabled associations island wide in this regard. According to him, If the Government does not focus its attention on these job applicants, the regime will have to face consequences in the future. In this regard, a series of protests will be organized throughout the country not only with the participation of disabled persons, but also with the assistance of their kith and kin.