Deaf Today: * Drivers' licenses for the deaf?

December 3, 2004

* Drivers' licenses for the deaf?

From: Colombo Page, Sri Lanka - Dec 3, 2004

ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Dec 03, Colombo: The deaf will be issued with driving licenses if the present discussions the Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry holding with the relevant authorities succeed.

Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Seetha Rajapaksa said that although legislation has been passed to give equal opportunity to disabled persons, they yet do not receive that equal treatment and pointed out that they are not even accommodated under the three per cent employment opportunities reserved for them under the law.

The statistics collected by the Ministry has shown that the percentage of disabled persons in Sri Lanka was between six to eight per cent of the total population.