Free Eyeglasses Mobile Service Program implemented by the General Secretariat for the Disabled - 2026
In conjunction with the National Vesak Week, 232 visually impaired persons were screened and free eyeglasses were provided at the Midellawala Purana Viharaya in the Thihagoda Divisional Secretariat area.
Next Dream, the government's program to employ people with disabilities, begins.
The online submission of applications for the registration of persons with disabilities and employer institutions under the Next Dream program for the employment of persons with disabilities, implemented by the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, and the media awareness campaign on the Next Dream program were held on the afternoon of May (22) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment under the patronage of the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Mr. Upali Pannila.
The application for registration of persons with disabilities and employer institutions under the Next Dream program for employing persons with disabilities, implemented by the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, is online. The program is based on the principle of equitable access and a barrier-free social life as stated in the "Prosperous Country, Beautiful Life" vision statement. Accordingly, Rs. 500 million has been allocated from the 2026 budget for the employment of persons with disabilities, which is a prominent program among the action programs. Accordingly, it has been planned to pay half of the salary of a person with disabilities for 24 months, subject to a maximum of Rs. 15,000 per month, to the employer institution that recruits a person with disabilities for work, said Mr. Upali Pannila, Minister of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
He also pointed out that according to the data of the Department of Census and Statistics, there are about 721,000 people with serious disabilities in Sri Lanka and about 171,000 people from low-income families are provided with a monthly assistance of Rs. 10,000. He also mentioned that Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated from this year's budget to improve access facilities for government institutions such as police stations and hospitals to ensure the right of access of people with disabilities. The media awareness campaign on the Next Dream program was held on the afternoon of May (22) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment under the patronage of Mr. Upali Pannila, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
Addressing the media, Member of Parliament Mr. Sugath Wasantha de Silva stated that people with disabilities should also have the right to break free from the dependency mentality and live as proud citizens. He said that the Next Dream program implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment will help in this regard.
The event was attended by Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Mr. Upali Pannila, Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Mr.Sampath Manthrinayake, Additional Secretary Mrs. Nalika Piyasena, Additional Secretary Mr. Gamini Wijesinghe, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Mr. Susantha Jayathilaka, Director of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities Mrs. Jayamali Wickramarachchi, Director of the Department of Social Services Mrs. Darshani Karunaratne, heads of employer institutions, government officials and a group of others.
April meeting of the National Assembly for Persons with Disabilities.
A meeting of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, operating under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, was held last week (April 29) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. The following decisions were also taken at the meeting.
It was decided to conduct an audit on accessibility for persons with disabilities. For this, it was decided to provide necessary training to social service officers in connection with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) to conduct this audit. Accordingly, it was decided to conduct future audits on accessibility and the initial audit will be conducted at the Sethsiripaya premises in Battaramulla.
It was also proposed to make necessary plans to provide a special allowance in the year 2027 for the disabled community suffering from cerebral palsy and other severe disabilities who cannot participate in the economic process and are bedridden.
Furthermore, one thousand million (1000) rupees has been allocated for access facilities in government institutions and public places, and it was decided to promptly obtain project proposals for the development of such infrastructure facilities from the relevant institutional authorities and responsible persons.
It was also proposed to take action on the requests received for the Rs. 500 million allocated for the employment of persons with disabilities.
The minister of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Mr.Upali Pannila,The Secretary of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Sampath Mantrinayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Ms. Darshani Karunaratne, Director of the Department of Social Services, Ms. Jayamali Wickramarachchi, Director of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities and members of the National Council were present on this occasion.
Certificates are awarded to government employees in the Colombo District who have successfully completed the Certificate Course in Sign Language for Government Servants.
Certificates are awarded to government employees in the Colombo District who have successfully completed the Certificate Course in Sign Language for Public Servants, implemented by the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.On 30/03/2026 morning, under Mr.Upali Pannila patronage, the event was held at the premises of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, located on the first floor, second phase, Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla.
This project is very important for government institutions to provide efficient and effective services to people with hearing impairments.Addressing the assembly, Mr.Upali Pannila emphasized that this training course is planned to be held in every district of the island by 2026, that sign language is a universal language, that if everyone in the world is able to master sign language, it would be easier than mastering several other spoken languages, and that this program is essential to achieving the government's policy of creating an integrated society where people with disabilities are economically and socially satisfied and treated equally.
The event was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Welfare and Community Empowerment, Mr. Sampath Mantrinayake, Director of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Jayamali Wickrama Arachchi, Additional Secretary (Administration) Ms. Radha Nanayakkara, Additional Secretary Ms. Naithi Piyasena, Additional Secretary Mr. Gamini Wijesinghe, and a group of government officials.
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