Unwavering courage

 

Courage daughter is Dr. Samith Samlee!

 

She was a medical student when she became disabled due to an accident at the Exhibition held at the municipal council, Osaka town 2008, about 13 years ago. She went to countries like Singapore and received treatment and was able to complete her education.

But she unexpectedly had to confine her life to a "wheelchair."

"I do not want to talk about that incident now. I'm used to this life now," she said when asked about the unfortunate accident she had to face.

Speaking to the BBC English Service, she said, "When someone is in trouble, there is no success in regretting it and spending time with it."

"Many people see it as their destiny when they are in trouble. Some give up the passion for life. But I'll read about those who fought with fate and won life. So I decided I should challenge my destiny."

Dr. Samlee is currently working in an institution affiliated to the Ministry of Health.

 

"People in our society have a negative attitude towards people with disabilities. Many people look at them as people who need charity and compassion.

"People in society often have a negative attitude towards people with disabilities. Many see them as people who need charity and compassion.

 

"This situation needs to change and they too should have the freedom to live like normal people in society," says Dr. Samlee.

She continues to study "Policies and Procedures for Persons with Disabilities" at the University of Flinders, a scholarship awarded by the Australian Government in 2017.

"My goal is to learn more about this field. That's why I went to Australia."

Dr. Samlee says he was saddened by the situation in my country when he saw how people with disabilities were treated in that society while in Australia.

"Especially some of our officers look at people with disabilities as a problem. Their attitudes need to change."

"Some people think it's not my problem, they solve it," Dr. Samlee said.

 

"Many of our institutions do not have accessibility for people with disabilities or wheelchair users. This is a sad thing."

Aji mujei , a prominent  who has been working on this issue, filed a fundamental rights case in the court in 2009. Accordingly, the Supreme Court ruled that the provision of access facilities, especially in new government buildings, was mandatory.

 

But this is not the case, said Dr. Samlee.

"Especially when new buildings are being built, the builders are not concerned about that court decision. The approval of the plans is done using various methods."

She said the lack of a proper legal authority in Sri Lanka to look into whether new buildings have been constructed with the facilities required for persons with disabilities is also a problem in here.

Also in February 2016, Sri Lanka joined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Dr. Samit Samlee says that in order for this to be more successful, the contents of this Convention must be incorporated into our legal system.

"My only hope is to live as independently as possible, and to help as many others who need help as possible."

"People with disabilities have the same dignity as the average person. It is important that our society becomes accustomed to respecting that," she concluded.