Ajith C. S. Perera

Ajith C. S. Perera

Perera (in February 2009)
Born 29 February 1956
Galle, Sri Lanka (earlier Ceylon)
Nationality Sri Lankan
Education Royal College Colombo,
University of Sri Lanka-Colombo,
University of Birmingham - England
Occupation Chartered Chemist,
Former Test Cricket Umpire,
Former senior manager,
Disability activist
Accessibility adviser
Accessibility auditor
Chief executive IDIRIYA
Parent(s) Commander M. G. S. Perera,
Maureen Johanna Perera

Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera, JP, CChem., FRSC (born 29 February 1956) is a Chartered Chemist by profession, a scholar, a former senior manager in industry, a qualified training instructor, also a former test-match-panel cricket umpire, and now, by reason of personal adversity, has become an author, a disability rights activist and a widely experienced and highly competent accessibility adviser-accessor as has been befittingly recognised even by reputed bodies overseas.[1][2][3]

The international admiration Perera has won and the national recognition he has gained have come through his achievements, acquired both in Sri Lanka and in England in different fields: cricket, analytical chemistry and quality assurance, in all of which he is academically and professionally well qualified and widely experienced.[4] [5]

He is the founder and, as of 15 January 2016, holds the honorary position of Chief Executive / Secretary-General of Idiriya, a registered, not-for-profit humanitarian service organisation in Sri Lanka.

Almost on the eve of umpiring his first cricket test match in Colombo, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, a large wayside tree crashed on and straddled his moving car, killing his chauffeur and leaving him instantaneously a paraplegic for life.[4][6][7][2]

Family

Perera's parents in 1999

Born to Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera, former Director of Naval Training, Royal Ceylon Navy[8] and former Senior Staff Captain / Nautical Instructor (Training of Deck Officer Cadets) Ceylon Shipping Corporation (1977–1983)[9] and Maureen Johanna Perera, he has one sister, Deepthi C. J. Guneratne BSc(Botany), MSc(Soil Chemistry).

Education

Perera completed his primary and secondary education at the Royal Primary School and the Royal College, Colombo and thereafter gained BSc(Honours) from the University of Sri Lanka, Colombo in May 1975,[3] followed by a joint MSc from the University of Colombo and the University of Birmingham, England in July 1977. He thereby qualified professionally in the field of Analytical Chemistry,[10] specialising in the subject of Quality Assurance, in which he holds an honorary PhD

Professional life: 1978–1992

Perera is a Chartered Chemist by profession and a Registered Analytical Chemist[11][12] of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow (FRSC) of the RSC, of which he is an honorary life member and the former hony. secretary / treasurer (1984–1992) of its section in Sri Lanka.

He is also a life member and a Fellow (FIChemC) of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon[13][14] and a Fellow (FIQA) of the Institute of Quality Assurance UK,.

His professional career started in August 1978 as an assistant lecturer at the department of Chemistry, University of Colombo. His work thereafter in the multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing industry extended for almost 14 years, from September 1978 until July 1992.

Perera started his career in industry as a production executive with Glaxo Ceylon Limited and stayed until March 1982.

Mackwoods-Winthrop Limited then hired hm as the senior manager in charge of their quality assurance and analytical control divisions until March 1989, and thereafter as the senior manager of the newly established technical services department.[15]

Perera then changed over to the cosmetics and healthcare industry when Hemas Manufacturing Limited invited him to join them in August 1992 as the Director-Senior Manager of quality assurance and product development.

But it was only 14 weeks service there for Perera, as a freak road accident on 12 November 1992 made him instantaneously a paraplegic for life and cut short tragically, at the age of 36, his professional career that was just blossoming out.[4]

Cricket career: 1972 –

His professional achievements in the cricketing sphere have extended to almost all possible vital avenues of the game reaching often the professional levels – as a player, umpire, scorer, training instructor and examiner on its laws, administrator, writer, author, and even an activist promoting 'enabling facilities for all' at cricket stadia, etc.[16]

Major achievements

Perera started playing serious cricket, as a utility player who combined his undergraduate and postgraduate education with cricket. He represented regularly the University of Colombo for seven consecutive years between 1972 and 1978, and played at Inter-club Division – One two-day tournament cricket[4][5] conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) for the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy, which was then considered as the main first-class domestic cricket competition in the country.[17]

In 1975, whilst still an undergraduate, Perera qualified to become a cricket umpire. He is the first and only test-match-panel Cricket Umpire the Royal College Colombo and the University of Colombo have ever produced.[5]

Becoming a professionally qualified cricket umpire. Perera in the Long Room at Lord’s, London, in 1985. With him are David Whiley (left) and Tom Smith MBE (right), then the two senior examiners of the Association of cricket umpires England.

Sri Lanka gained test status in 1981 as a full member of the international cricket council. Yet, it was still the era when cricket scoring was hardly given any kind of importance.

In the Preface to The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket Leslie Cheeseman B.E.M. described Perera’s endeavours as:[18]

"Even in those early days, the perceived extent of his unbridled enthusiasm, the level of his intended personal commitment, analytical mind, high degree of technical knowledge of the game and its governing laws, plus his unquenchable thirst for newer knowledge and practical experience at higher level of the game together with his willingness to further improve individual performance, made Perera to decide to go to England, several times at his own expense, to achieve this goal".

Professional umpiring. Perera with Don Oslear, former test and first class cricket umpire; Lancashire vs Somerset county seconds 4-day championship match at the Old Trafford Manchester in July 1990.

As a result Perera became the First Sri Lankan to be accepted and recognised by the body the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers England as a "professionally qualified" cricket umpire (24 October 1985),[6] scorer (7 April 1987), then also as a 'scorer competent in advanced scoring techniques' (25 March 1990), a Grade – A senior training instructor in the art and craft of both cricket scoring and cricket umpiring (August 1990) and finally, also as an effective examiner (1 November 1998) on the Laws of Cricket, all offices of this reputed association.[2][4]

For 15 weeks of the British summer in 1990, Perera, afforded the opportunity, umpired matches in England in Lancashire county four-day second eleven and in leagues in the area, viz. Bolton & District Cricket Association, Bolton League and Central Lancashire.[4]

Invited to the BBC cricket commentary box. Perera with the BBC radio test match special commentary team at Old Trafford in England on 9 August 1990 during the second test match England vs India. With him are (on his left) Godfrey Evans, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Brian Johnston (and on his right) David Lloyd and Bill Frindall (Scorer).

After 17 years of hard work, sacrifice, loads of patience and, refusal to bow down to pressure and change his ways to please anyone at the centre, Perera, at the age of 36, made his way to the six-member Sri Lanka test-match-panel of cricket umpires on 10 November 1992. [2][19]

In 10 days’ time Perera was due to stand in his first test match in Colombo Sri Lanka vs New Zealand. It was so…… very close yet so far for Perera.[16]

Significant Contributions

In 1996, he was highly commended by the then Sri Lanka Cricket Board in becoming of great assistance to them, as single-handedly, Perera accepted and satisfactorily completed its highly technical assignment to streamline the rules and regulations governing 2, 3 and 4-day division – 1, division – 2 and under 24 major tournament cricket in Sri Lanka. [20]

Seated on a wheelchair, battling paraplegia and balancing a laptop, he authored two A-4 size internationally famed books on cricket, The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket (May 1999) ISBN 955-96698-0-X and Thinking Cricket (September 2001) ISBN 955-96698-1-8. They were also published by him without any external financial support.[4]

First formal cricket scorer training in Sri Lanka. Perera with the senior scorers of Sri Lanka at this programme held at Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo in December 1999.

In December 1999, at the request of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, Perera designed and conducted over four half-days the first formal training and evaluation programme for the top Sri Lanka scorers, in preparation for the under-19 cricket world cup tournament that was held there in January 2000. [2][21]

Perera has also turned a pioneer disability activist campaigning in Sri Lanka for enabling sports environments and user-friendly facilities.[22]

Honours and recognitions

On 8 May 1999 the Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka, in recognition of his twenty four long years of dedicated services, unstinted loyal support and unlimited contributions towards the betterment of the umpiring fraternity in Sri Lanka, at times at great personal sacrifice, unanimously elected Perera a ‘Life Member’. [23]

A historic achievement. Perera receives the award from the then high commissioner for India in Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Nirupama Rao, watched by the Hon. Mayor Danasiri Amaratunga, at the literary awards festival 2005 organised by the Dehiwala Municipal Council at its auditorium on 30 September 2005.

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack (millennium edition) has seen fit to regard Perera as one of only eight cricketing people to be specifically recognised for his many achievements and worthwhile contributions to the game.[3][4]

He also became a recipient (1999) of the star of Asia award for excellence in sports.[7]

On 30 January 2003, Perera and 15 other retired test match and one-day international panel senior umpires of Sri Lanka were recognised for the dedicated long years of thankless services rendered to the game and felicitated.[24][25]

On 30 September 2005, Perera, for his internationally recognised significant contributions to cricket literature, became the first author in the annals of his country’s sports literature to be recognised and honoured formally at a literary awards festival. [26][4][27]

On 30 August 2007 again, Perera was amongst five cricket scorers recognised and honoured befittingly for the untiring and admirable services rendered to this vital aspect of the game.[28][2]

Disability activist: 1997 –

Perera leads a panel discussion offering numerous insights on 'Accessibility to Built Environments' at Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo in July 2006.

Perera is a pioneer campaigner in Sri Lanka for Social Inclusion focusing equal opportunity, justice and dignity of all people in day-to-day life – the key concept in this context being universal design for inclusion of people.- (meaning construction of environments that enable so as to include all and exclude none.) [29]

Significant Contributions

As a disability rights activist, Perera has promoted the concept of establishing a society that does not marginalise or discriminate against people on the basis of limited mobility, either for short time, or long time or life time in attending to normal day-to-day life – the principal problem in this context.[30]

"Ability within dis-Aability". Perera the writer, speaker and presenter at Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on 15 March 2006.

He is a fervent advocate of built environments and facilities that are a joy rather than a trial to use by everyone. He has constantly used the weapon of persuasion to convince people that the cumulative result of even small changes could be substantial.[31]

Perera has also pioneered the campaign in Sri Lanka for accessible tourism, recognising it as an overlooked growth market and new profit resource for Sri Lanka.[32]

Perera was also instrumental in proposing to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and paving the way in persuading them to establish the first Sri Lanka standard for design in building construction SLS ISO TR 9527:2006 in 2007,[33] a fact which Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera, the then Chairman SLSI, recognised as an achievement of national importance.[34]

Accessibility at the First Post Office in Sri Lanka. Perera, with the then Deputy Postmaster-General Kingsley Wimalaratne, cuts the ribbon to open the accessible pathway at Mount Lavinia Post Office on 24 January 2007. Perera is watched by (on left) Marise Deckker Chairperson Astron Ltd. Ratmalana (funder).

Major achievements

[35][29][31][36][37][38]

Perera gets a fillip for accessibility rights

Thanks to the voluntary efforts of Perera with foresight, the inherent right of disabled persons to have unhindered access to public buildings and facilities received a substantial boost when the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka gave a landmark order on 27 April 2011 – (See External links), further strengthening the earlier given order of 14 October 2009.[39]

Perera for the petitioner present again in person saw the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka order on 17 June 2013 the Agencies of the State to ensure that those of them who are disabled or with restricted ability be given every opportunity to integrate freely with the community.[40]

Perera, appearing at all times in person on a wheelchair and seeking redress for physically disabled persons accessing new public buildings, successfully pursued single handed a public interest litigation fundamental rights application under reference SCFR 221/2009.[41]

He argued the need to have the disability access laws and regulations already enacted some years ago, fully enforced and implemented from this date, so that, ALL Key Building Parts of NEW public buildings in Sri Lanka – toilets and wash facilities in particular – in the commercial, recreational, social, educational, residential and industrial categories, shall be constructed in accordance with standards and design requirements specified in the regulations.[42]

His endeavours were aimed at minimising safety hazards for everyone, preventing further colossal losses the people and country incur, promoting social exclusion for all and enhancing productive and gainful opportunities for the widest possible range of persons, dis-abled persons in particular, in their day-to-day lives.

The Supreme Court order, Perera ensured, further stated that all authorities empowered to approve building plans or issue ‘Certificates of Conformity’ for public buildings shall refrain from doing so in respect of any new buildings which violated these orders.

Building planners, architects, builders and local authorities together with owners and co-owners, as equally responsible partners, will be required to adhere to the legal requirements in regard to accessibility. Any violations of these court orders shall be a serious punishable offence incuring punitive repercussions. (See External links.)

At the Presidential Elections held on 26 January 2010, Perera, in consultation with the Commissioner of Elections initiated voluntary action[43] towards enabling the staff on duty at polling stations to be sensitive to the special needs of disabled voters, including those with significant physical, manual and visual impairments and worked towards providing polling stations and polling booths that would be more approachable and accessible to the disabled persons.[44][45]

For the first time in Sri Lanka history, Perera led a group of professionals and intellectuals with restricted ability to contest the Parliamentary elections of 17 August 2015.[46][47][48]

Honours and recognitions

Dr. Perera has aggressively promoted in Sri Lanka the concept of 'Social Inclusion for All' focusing on built environments that does not marginalise or cause discrimination against people on the grounds of inevitable diversity in ability and campaigned against arbitrary categorisation of people.[30]

His long years of pioneering voluntary endeavours with unreserved commitment, competence, and invaluable contribution to the promotion and establishment of 'Accessibility to the Built Environment', enhancing safety and social inclusion with empowerment of people with all abilities, has been befittingly recognised and warmly appreciated by several reputed bodies as depicted in the three photographs here.[49][50][51]

Felicitation – The Disability Organisations Joint Front Sri Lanka (DOJF), presented Perera with a special plaque at a felicitation ceremony held at Hotel Renuka, Colombo on Saturday 11 June 2010.[49] 
Recognition – A humanitarian award was presented to Dr. Perera in Colombo in November 2011 by Professor Dr. Dame Nguyen Theresa Thu Thuy, International Vice Chancellor of OIUCM, Victoria Australia; Professor Dr. Sir John Hopson – Grand Master of the Knights of Charity, England; and Professor Dr. Sir Mayisvren Ellappen – Dean, Faculty of Complementary Medicines, Allianze University College of Medical Sciences, Malaysia.[50] 
Appreciation – Chairman Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka former SC Judge Justice Priyantha Perera expressed HRCSL's gratitude and sincere thanks to Dr Ajith Perera for his invaluable contributions as an activist and for the invitation extended by him to the HRCSL to initiate all necessary action to safeguard rights of those vulnerable groups.[50] 

Books published

The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket

(1999 April); ISBN 955-96698-0-X

It’s an impressive memento which described the fascinating story of how his national team – Sri Lanka – blossomed out and established itself as International Champions of 1996/97 in Overs-limited cricket. Perera has also captured here the brilliance, the philosophy and the pulsating drama of one-day internationals (ODIs) of that glorious period (1996–98) backed by highly informative and well tabulated appendices.[52]

Further reading

Thinking Cricket

(2001 September); ISBN 955-96698-1-8 Magnum opus

Perera’s Magnum opus never loses sight of what is required to make a complete cricketer – in every sense of the word. Former England skipper Mike Brearley OBE has contributed the preface while the then Sri Lanka’s cricket coach, Davenall Whatmore, the Foreword. It is the only self study training guide by an umpire for the players. It has won admiration and gained much recognition to the country from the cricketing world, which includes the ICC, MCC, ECB and even the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack (2002).[53][54]

Further reading

Access Ability for All – Why You?

(2008 May); ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4

It is an A-5 size consciousness-raising mind opener, free of technical jargon, on Accessibility for All to built environments to convince decision makers that it is a low cost investment and a Win – Win game of indispensable National importance for everyone.[55]

Teacher to the Navy – Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera

(2004 August); ISBN 955-96698-2-6

This book is a tribute to Perera’s father, who served Sri Lanka’s Navy in its formative years (1950–1975) and founded the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) at Dockyard Trincomalee on 18 July 1967, serving as its first commandant.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Chandrarathne, Ranga (2 April 2006). "Designing to add years to life". Features Page 35 (Sunday Observer). Retrieved 2009-01-02. A product of the University of Colombo, Dr. Ajith Perera is a Chartered Analytical Chemist by profession, and a Fellow of several reputed international bodies. He is academically and professionally well qualified in different fields, Chemistry and Cricket in particular, from here and in England. He has been a Senior Manager with two reputed multinational pharmaceutical companies here and possesses the working experiences and administration skills acquired over a twelve-year period. He was also a Senior Test Match Cricket Umpire and has qualified from England as a professional Scorer, Training Instructor and an Examiner.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Withington, Neil (1 September 2007). "Historic Occasion in Sri Lanka – Editor’s Comments". Journal of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (Surrey, England: The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers England) (310): 21. Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, since 1978 is a long serving member of the ACU&S (England). He was amongst five scorers who on 30 August 2007 received recognition and were honoured."
    "In the 1980s Ajith achieved all his four goals here to become the ‘First Sri Lankan’ to be accepted and recognised by the ACU&S (England) as a qualified umpire (1985), scorer (1987), then also as a ‘scorer competent in advanced scoring techniques’ (1990) and as a ‘qualified training instructor’ both for cricket scores and umpires (1990). "
    "It was an era when scoring was never given any kind of importance, when young Ajith Perera at 30 years, decided to come to England and qualify professionally at his own expense, to serve better the two vital aspects in Sri Lanka cricket, umpiring and scoring. "
    "After 17 long years of dedicated painstaking efforts, in 1992 November he won National recognition in being appointed to the six member Sri Lanka Test Match Panel of umpires for the New Zealand tour there and was soon to stand in is First Test Match in Colombo. "
    "Cruel fate had hidden plans for Perera. A way-side tree fell on his moving car just few days before, to leave him instantaneously a paraplegic for life."
    "In December 1999 Ajith’s untiring efforts, devotion and competence saw him, then as a wheelchair user, completing victoriously a daunting task afforded to him by the then Sri Lanka Cricket Board, to design, organise and conduct over four half-days, the FIRST formal training and evaluation programme held in Sri Lanka for their top scorers. "
    "He was among eight cricketing people of the world selected by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in its millennium edition.
  3. 1 2 3 Perera, S. S. (5 March 2001). Battle of the Blues Royal Thomian Cricket Encounter 2001 Royal Souvenir – "An appreciation of a distinguished Royalist, a professional and a cricket enthusiast". Royal College Colombo. Retrieved 2009-01-02. In 1992 November, he was selected to the Six Member panel of Test Match Umpires by the then Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL). "
    "After his education first at the Royal Primary School (1957–62) and then at Royal College Colombo (1963–71), he entered the University of Colombo in 1972. He played cricket for the University and its Staff teams during the period (1972–78). "
    "One of the few Royalists to get his name in the prestigious "WISDEN CRICKETERS' ALMANACK" is Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera, who received the worthy recognition to be amongst EIGHT CRICKET PEOPLE FOR 1999. Ajith as he is known to all, has spent over 25 years taking much interest in the technical and training side of cricket, for which he even sacrificed a much prosperous professional career as a Chartered Chemist and a Senior Manager.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Thawfeeq, Sa’adi (18 February 2007). "Paraplegic Ajith campaigns for equality to all". Sports (The Nation on Sunday). Retrieved 2009-01-02. One of the greatest tragedies that could happen to anyone and has robbed the country of someone qualified academically and professionally and experienced in different fields is the unfortunate accident that Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera had met with".
    "In 1992 at the age of 38, he was appointed to the six-member Test match panel of senior cricket umpires. Almost on the eve of umpiring his first cricket test match Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, a wayside tree crashed on and straddled his moving car to leave him instantaneously a paraplegic for life".
    "He was for the record, a Chartered Chemist by profession and a Fellow of many a prestigious body counting over ten years of work experience as a former senior manager/director with two multinational pharmaceutical companies".
    "Besides playing division one tournament cricket (1972–78) , his professional achievements in the cricketing sphere extended to almost all vital avenues of the game."
    "At his own expense he arranged to go to England and become not only a qualified Umpire (1985), but a Scorer (1987), an advanced Scorer (1989), a competent Training Instructor (1990) and finally in 1997 an Examiner on the Laws of Cricket, of the prestigious professional body, the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers England".
    "In 1990 he was afforded the rare opportunity to umpire matches in England in Lancashire at county four-day second eleven and in topmost professional leagues in the area, to acquire that much needed experience at higher level and gain exposure to professional competitive cricket".
    "Perera’s dedication and devotion to the game was stupendous. Seated on a wheelchair, battling paraplegia and balancing a laptop, he wrote two A-4 size internationally famed books, ‘Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket’ (1999) and ‘Thinking Cricket’ (2002) – latter the only self training manual by an umpire for the players, written and also published by him without any external financial support."
    "Both these Internationally recognised significant contributions to cricket literature enabled him in 2005 to win a special award at the annual literary awards festival organised by the Municipal Council of Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia. It marked the first ever recognition received nationally for sports literature at a literary festival in this country to-date."
    "Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, widely regarded as the cricketers’ ‘bible’ in its millennium edition in 2000 recognised Perera as one of its ‘eight Cricket People of 1999’.
  5. 1 2 3 Wijedasa, K. L. F. (16 April 2007). "Signed Official Document". By:Former Director of Physical Education, University of Colombo (1965–1982); Former Member Sri Lanka Sports Council, Former Chairman, National Selection Committee; Former National Athletic Coach. Quote from this document: " I have known Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera for three and a half decades…… International admiration Dr. Perera has won and the national recognition he has gained have come through his proud achievements and significant contributions acquired simultaneously, from here and in England in completely different fields: cricket, analytical chemistry and quality assurance, in all of which he is academically and professionally well qualified and experienced".
    "Ajith represented the University of Colombo at cricket throughout the (1972–1978) period. I still remember him as a passionate utility player who did yeomen’s service ….. He combined his undergraduate and postgraduate education with cricket. He played two-day matches in the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy Inter-club tournament cricket matches, the then main first-class domestic cricket competition in Sri Lanka. … He played under the captaincies of Dr. W. Ravindran, ……".
    "His inquisitive analytical mind to know in detail about the laws that control and govern the game of cricket, made him in 1975, whilst still a student, a qualified cricket umpire. He then progressed steadily to become the first and only international test cricket umpire the Colombo University has ever produced.
  6. 1 2 Veera, Sriram (29 January 2009). more "Retired hurt but not out" Check |url= value (help). Cricinfoblogs Tour Diary India in Sri Lanka 2009. Cricinfo. Retrieved 2009-02-04. On December 12, 1992, 38-year-old Ajith Perera got the letter he had spent years waiting for. The man who became the first Sri Lankan to qualify as the professional umpire after a final exam at Lord's in 1985 was about to stand in his first Test, between Sri Lanka v New Zealand, when it happened. He read the appointment letter a few times and left the board office to get back home to share the proud moment with his parents. He didn’t get home for the next two years. It was a stormy day and Perera was sitting in his car with the letter when nature intervened. A big wayside tree crashed against the car, killing the driver and instantly rendering Perera a paraplegic for life.
  7. 1 2 Briggs, Simon; Tanya, Aldred (4 April 2000). Matthew, Engel, ed. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2000 (137 ed.). Guildford Surrey: John Wisden & Co. Limited. p. 1533. ISBN 0-947766-57-X. Few People are more deserving of recognition. At the end of 1999; Ajith Perera was awarded the Star of Asia for excellence in cricket. ……..In 1992, he was on the brink of international recognition. But only days before his first test match, Perera’s career was abruptly terminated. He was being driven through Colombo in stormy conditions when a tree fell on the car, killing his driver and leaving Perera a paraplegic."
    "A determined and energetic character, he redirected his energies into writing, producing a celebration of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup Triumph called The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket'.
  8. 1 2 Weliwitigoda M. H., Lieutenant Commander SLN. (Rtd.), Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera – the founder of the Naval Academy, retrieved 2012-05-10
  9. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S. (10 August 2004). Teacher to the Navy – Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera (First ed.). Colombo: The Compiler. pp. IV & XI. ISBN 955-96698-2-6. This compilation is a tribute to the late Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera (1917–1999), who with unwavering dedication served Sri Lanka’s Navy where he was instrumental in its training in its formative 22 years (1950–1972), especially in giving birth and also life to the renowned Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee and thereafter, Ceylon Shipping Corporation (1977–1983) in training of deck officer cadets, as their Senior Staff Captain / Nautical Instructor MV Lanka Kalyani.
  10. ↑ "What is Analytical Chemistry?". Retrieved 2009-02-20. Analytical Chemistry, serves humanity – the needs of its many fields. It is the science of chemical measurements for medicine, industry, environment and food. It seeks ever improved means of measuring the chemical composition of natural and artificial materials. The techniques of this science are used to identify the substances which may be present in a material and to determine the exact amounts of the identified substances. The contributions made by analytical chemists have played critical roles in the sciences ranging from the development of concepts and theories (pure science) to a variety of practical applications, such as quality control of industrial manufacturing, biomedical applications, environmental monitoring and forensic science (applied science).
  11. ↑ "Formal certificate issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the U.K. signed by President and Registrar". RSC. 1 April 1999. Quote from this document: " This is to certify that the name of Ajith Chrysantha Stephen Perera has been entered on the Register of Analytical Chemists of The Royal Society of Chemistry and is entitled to use the designation Registered Analytical Chemist.
  12. ↑ "Who is an Analytical Chemist?". Retrieved 2009-02-20. Chemists often specialize. Analytical Chemists work to improve the reliability of existing techniques to meet the demands for better chemical measurements which arise constantly in our society. They adapt proven methodologies to new kinds of materials or to answer new questions about their composition. They carry out research to discover completely new principles of measurement and are at the forefront of the utilization of major discoveries such as lasers and microchip devices for practical purposes. They make important contributions to many fields as diverse as medicine, industry, environment food, forensic chemistry, archaeology, and space science.
  13. ↑ "What is The Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon?". Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-21. The Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon, was founded in 1972 as the successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon founded in 1941. The Institute, as at January 2009, has a membership of over a thousand professionally qualified Chemists.
  14. ↑ "Who is a Fellow of The Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon?". Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-21. FIChemC (Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon): Fellowship, the highest grade of professional membership, may be awarded to those who, in the opinion of the Council be mature, senior person in his status of profession who has acquired and practiced key skills through professional activity for a period of at least five years and who has in the opinion of the Council shall have made an outstanding contribution to appropriate professional practice, which includes ‘the management or direction of an organisation in which Chemical Science is important’.
  15. ↑ Teresa Harris, (Editor) (1 July 1991). "News of Members". Quality News – the Magazine of the Institute of Quality Assurance London (London: IQA) 17 (7): 295. Last June the Sri Lankan IQA member Ajith C. S. Perera visited our headquarters (at 10, Grosvenor Gardens London). He was over in England attending the sesquicentennial annual sessions of the RSC and thereafter taking part in a series of industrial study visits organised by the British Council, including that of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Perera is the quality assurance, analytical control and technical services senior manager of the Sri Lanka operation of Sterling-Winthrop, an international pharmaceutical organisation.
  16. 1 2 Rodrigopulle, Elmore (22 May 2007). "Enabling environments". Sports Page 40 (Daily News). Retrieved 2009-01-28. Ajith's cricketing scoreboard indicates an impressive innings still 'Not out'. He served the game with genuine commitment in almost all possible avenues. After playing division one and three cricket for the University of Colombo, he immediately took to umpiring, scoring, training and instructing to qualify academically and professionally in all these avenues from England".
    "    After a four-month training at Lancashire County in 1990, he was appointed to the Test match panel of umpires in November 1992, but a falling tree left him instantaneously a paraplegic for life almost on the eve of umpiring the First Test against the visiting Kiwis".
    "…..This personal adversity brought the best out of Dr. Ajith     Perera, in turning him into a cricket writer to produce a book on cricket that won him wide international recognition and also a voluntary disability advocate and well known pioneer campaigner in Sri Lanka on 'Enabling environments for all', especially at our international sports venues".
  17. ↑ Balachandran Kanishkaa, (editorial assistant of Cricinfo) (5 October 2006). "Cricinfo Sri Lanka domestic cricket – A brief history". Cricinfo. Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04. It was only in 1937 when a structured inter-club first-class domestic cricket tournament came into being, known as the Daily News Trophy. The title was changed to P Saravanamuttu Trophy in 1950–51 and then the Robert Senanayake Trophy in 1976–77. Sponsors came into the picture in 1982–83, and it was renamed the Lakspray Trophy, and was later renamed the Sara Trophy eight seasons later. The tournament changed its title again in 1998–99 to the Premier Trophy.
  18. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S.. (18 April 1999). The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket (first ed.). Colombo: author. pp. IX–XI. ISBN 955-96698-0-X. Preface.
  19. ↑ Gunaratne, Tissa (11 November 1992). "Signed Official Document". By: The then Administrative Secretary Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. Quote from this document: "We are pleased to inform that Mr. A. C. S. Perera,….,has been selected by the Board to the Panel of Six Grade – 1 Senior Umpires who will officiate at the forthcoming Test and One-day International matches between Sri Lanka and New Zealand during the period 16th November 1992 to 20th December 1992, on their tour of Sri Lanka."
    "Mr.Perera has been assigned as the field-umpire for the First Test Match and as the stand-by umpire for the Third Test Match. His other assignment details are not yet finalised by the Cricket Board...
  20. ↑ Bernadus, Carlton (26 August 1996). "Signed Official Document". By: The then Chairman of Tournament Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. Quote from this document: "....It was very kind of you to have undertaken single-handed to revise completely and compile a Code of Conduct and Regulations for all 2, 3 and 4 day Division 1 & 2 and under – 24 major, Tournament Cricket in Sri Lanka conducted by the BCCSL. The Ex-Co. of the BCCSL at its meeting held on 17th August 19965, have again commended highly your over-all competence in handling specially matters of highly technical nature, the very systematic professional all-round approach adopted and the great dedication with which you have offered your invaluable services…..
  21. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S. (18 September 2001). Thinking Cricket (first ed.). Colombo: Author. p. 257. ISBN 955-96698-1-8. Caption to the photograph published here reads: Perera had the honour of conducting the first ever formal training programme for Sri Lanka’s top Scorers.
  22. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S. (19 August 2008). "Cricket where Everybody is Included – "An investment for a better tomorrow"". Features Page 8 (Upali Newspapers – The Island). Retrieved 2009-01-30. Although now a wheelchair user, Perera remains very much 'NOT OUT' as a pioneer disability activist, promoting Environments that are Accessible and Friendly to All especially at Sports venues.
  23. ↑ Amarasinghe, Saman (8 May 1999). "Signed Official Document". By: The then Hony. General Secretary of the Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka. Quote from this document: "It is with great pleasure I confirm that, on the recommendations of the executive committee of the ACUSL, in recognition of your twenty four long years of dedicated service, unstinted loyal support and unlimited contributions towards the upliftment of the umpiring fraternity in Sri Lanka, at times at great personal sacrifice, you have been unanimously elected a Life Member of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers Sri Lanka at the 55th Annual General Meeting held Saturday 08th May 1996 at the BMICH, with effect from this date.
  24. ↑ Fernando, R. L. (17 January 2003). "Janashakthi Insurance the first to felicitate our retired cricket umpires". Sports Page 18 (Upali Newspapers – The Island). Retrieved 2009-01-08. The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers Sri Lanka (ACUSSL) will be felicitating sixteen Test and One-day International panel umpires at a ceremony organised by Janashakthi Insurance Co., Limited at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium on 30 January 2003 at 4 pm Medals and certificates will be awarded at this ceremony to all these senior umpires who have rendered yeoman service to the game but have gone down the lane of forgotten memories."
    "The umpires who will be honoured are: Ignatius Anandappa, C.E. Basil Anthony, Dooland Buultjens, B. Cyril Cooray, Herbert C. Felsinger, Allan Felsinger, K.T. Francis, M.D.D.N. Gunaratne, Ajith C. S. Perera, S. Ponnathurai, T.M. Samarasinghe, P.W. Vidanagamage, E.K.G. Wijewardena, Udaya Wickremasinghe, Granville Hamer, D.N. Pathirana. Janashakthi Managing Director Chandra T. Schaffter will be the chief guest.
  25. ↑ "Historic occasion for cricket umpires" (Press release). Upali Newspapers – The Island. 4 February 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-24. It was a historic evening at the P. Saravanamuttu Cricket Stadium in Colombo on 30th January last (2003). Sixteen of the retired test match and one-day international panel senior umpires of Sri Lanka, were presented each with a named engraved ‘gold medal of excellence’ and a ‘certificate of high merit’, at a colourful ceremony. Never before a cricket umpire while still living, had been recognised so warmly, for the dedicated long years of ‘thankless services’ rendered to the game in this country. "
    " Fond memories of Ajith C. S. Perera, re-kindled in our minds in seeing him on his wheelchair, as one of the very much worthy recipients. Although a paraplegic since 1993, it is evident how much active he still is when it comes to cricket in particular. It simply proves how incorrect are our perceptions and believes about the disabled people in this country.
  26. ↑ "Ajith Perera to be honoured today" (Press release). Daily News. 30 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-23. The prestigious Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (in 2000 and 2002), The Cricketer International, the ICC, the ECB and former England Cricket Captain Mike Brearley OBE were amongst those who have recognised the merit of the outstanding contributions Perera has made to Cricket Literature through his two Books, "The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket" (1999) and "Thinking Cricket – a Trainers' Manual" (2002). "
    "What is most remarkable is that his stupendous efforts here have come with none to support him financially, whilst seated on his wheelchair and continuing to fight silently a daunting daily battle against paraplegia. "
    "For the first time in the annals of Sri Lanka's sports history an award is being presented for sports literature. The recipient of that award is none other than Ajith C.S. Perera, a former test match panel senior cricket umpire who is amongst nine other outstanding personnel who have been selected to receive recognition and honoured befittingly for their exemplary services in different subject areas of literature. "
    "Perera will receive his award at the Literary Awards Festival 2005 today at the auditorium of the Dehiwala Municipal Council under the guidance of Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga. Mrs. Nirupama Rao, the High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka will be the Chief Guest.
  27. ↑ "Recognition given to sports literature" (Press release). Daily News. 4 October 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-23. For the first time in the annals of Sri Lanka's sports history, recognition was given to sports literature, at the literary awards festival 2005 organised by the Dehiwala Municipal Council and the Central Library under the guidance of the Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga. It was held at the Dehiwala Municipal Council auditorium amidst a large gathering on September 30."
    "Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, former Test match panel senior cricket umpire was amongst nine other outstanding personnel who were selected to receive recognition and honoured befittingly for their exemplary services in different subject areas of Literature.
  28. ↑ "Historic occasion for Lanka cricket scorers" (Press release). Lake House – Daily News. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-30. The scorers section of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers Sri Lanka headed by its President Algernon Francke, must also be congratulated in taking an excellent initiative to honour befittingly five of the people for the untiring and admirable services rendered to this vital aspect of the game, in somewhat different ways. This is significant as in our illustrious annals of cricket, it will be the very first time Scorers will be recognized and felicitated by any source. "
    "It was in an era when scoring was never given any kind of importance here only, Ajith C. S. Perera decided to go to England and qualify professionally; even sacrificing his own funds, to serve better this vital aspect of Sri Lankan Cricket."
    "Claude de Silva and Faleel Keyath from the by-gone era together with Thushara Cooray and D.A.S.Dissanayake are the others to be felicitated today at 7 pm at the Bloomfield Cricket Grounds.
  29. 1 2 Chandrarathne, Ranga; Thilakarathne, Indeewara (25 November 2007). "Universal accessibility a modern prerequisite". Plus – Features (Lake House – Sunday Observer). Retrieved 2009-01-22. A wide and diverse sector of people continue fighting a silent battle to access and to make use of services and facilities provided by our public buildings and public places. What is sad to note is that even the new buildings that are coming up in Government sector as well as private sector, continue to contribute to this problem. "
    " With this there is a great social problem which affects the quality of life of people and the economy of the country. said Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, a pioneer campaigner for enabling environment. He is also a leader with proven competence in designing for inclusion of people."
    " Architects, engineers and builders are not only professionals but they are also custodians of our living environments. It is their moral duty to take into account the 'diversity in human ability' when planning, designing and constructing buildings. If not, the present trend, we see, in social exclusion created by man, will accelerate."
    "One major drawback that professionals in this industry have is that none of them are wheel chair users or even using any mobility aid. Looking at a building that has recently been done in the country, especially the facilities at even five star hotels, is proof that these professionals in building industry, do not give any care to this factor nor do not have proven competence and adequate expertise in designing rightly. They lack the vital practical knowledge here.
  30. 1 2 Ockersz, Lynn (27 March 2006). "Disability no dead-end". Features, OP-ED Page (Lake House – Daily News). Retrieved 2009-02-02. Perera, has been aggressively promoting in Sri Lanka, with relentless commitment, the concept of ' social inclusion for all' focusing on built environments that does not marginalise or discriminate against people on the grounds of inevitable diversity in ability and campaigned against arbitrary categorization of people. The greatest asset a person has, according to Perera, is the ability to go about one's normal daily living independently. The marginalisation and discrimination by the society the restricted mobility brings is the principal problem. in this context. Accordingly, the prime challenge facing those dealing with our built environment – such as architects and designers – is to create 'enabling environments', which facilitate the mobility of all – the disabled included.
  31. 1 2 Ockersz, Lynn (25 November 2007). "Brimming possibilities in the dis-abled". Features, Volume 29, Issue 47 (Upali Newspapers – Sunday Island). Retrieved 2009-02-02. Dr. Ajith Perera, is a fervent advocate of better built environments and facilities. The key concept in this context is design for inclusion, he explained in an interview with the Sunday Island. Public and other buildings should be designed or constructed in such a manner that they facilitate the movements of not only the able but the disabled too and it should be remembered that disability takes myriad forms."
    "People need to realize the benefits that such disable-friendly facilities bring to all sections of society. We constantly need to raise awareness on these issues and when those with the means bring about even small changes, the cumulative result could be substantial. However, the weapon of persuasion should be constantly used. "
    "Over the past 10 months our advocacy has shown success. For example, organizations such as, Hotel Taj Samudra, Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa, HSBC Premium Center Flower Road, GlaxoSmithKline Ratmalana, HNB Wattala, Arpico Super Centre Hyde Park Corner, Dehiwela and Mt. Lavinia post offices, Dehiwela Municipal Council, Astron Ltd, the Superior Courts Complex, Hulftsdorp and the British Council, Colombo have modified their buildings to facilitate the disabled. HSBC Premium Centre have received our guidance to make the necessary modifications to its buildings and already made a series of internal changes to help the disabled. All this has been achieved in just 10 months. Through these changes brought about under the ‘design for inclusion’ project, the relevant sections of the business world are helping to eliminate a range of grievous social problems. They are also generating better business by attracting a diversity of people including, of course, the disabled, who would be comfortable in these new surroundings.
  32. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S.. (4 May 2008). Access Ability For All – Why You (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRYA. pp. 135–139. ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4. Chapter 21: New Profit For Sri Lanka By Dr. Scott Paul Rains.
  33. ↑ "Design to include, not exclude, all people" (Press release). Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). 29 November 2007. Retrieved 2009-03-15. …. the Government (of Sri Lanka) has declared 2007/08 as the ‘Year of Access’ and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (on an initiative made by this writer) responded expeditiously to establish a Sri Lanka Standard for building construction (reference: SL/ISO/TR/9527:2006.)
  34. ↑ Perera, Ajith C. S. (4 May 2008). Access Ability For All – Why You? (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRYA. p. 111. Chapter 18: Meeting the Building Needs of Disabled People by Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera."
    "I am very happy to confirm that it was the initiative taken by IDIRIYA and its Secretary-General Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, in proposing to the SLSI on 1 February 2006 and following-up matters thereafter on 15 March 2006 in addressing the SLSI sectoral committee as to the vital need of developing our own building standard in this regard, that paved the way for this achievement of national importance.
  35. ↑ "'Access for all'" (Press release). HSBC Sri Lanka – The Sunday Leader. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-25. HSBC's ongoing 'Access for All' project was initiated to provide ease of access to persons with impaired vision and other debilitating medical conditions, users of mobility accessories such as wheel chairs, canes and braces, expectant mothers and individuals with baby carriers".
    "The first modifications were made at the HSBC Premier Centre and the Colpetty Branch on the advice of 'IDIRIYA' Secretary-General Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera. IDIRIYA is a not-for-profit humanitarian services organisation that aims to serve disabled people. HSBC will continue to extend the project to all its offices.
  36. ↑ Kuruwita, Rathindra (30 November 2008). "Enabling environments for all". News – Features – Page 12 (Rivira Media Corporation – The Nation on Sunday). Retrieved 2009-03-14. Dehiwala Municipality limits have the highest residential population of Sri Lanka, hence we have identified and embarked on the mission to make DEHIWALA a ‘Model Town’ in implementing these regulations and make that as an “eye opener” Dr. Perera said. "
    " “Therefore we consider the 12th of July 2007 as a significant day in the annals of Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council. With the vision of ‘Enabling Environments for All’ in this vast region having Sri Lanka’s highest residential population, ‘Facilities for Access by Everyone to Premises’ were established and ceremonially opened at the Council and at the Central Library premises in Dehiwala” further stated Dr. Ajith Perera.
  37. ↑ "'Astron in laudable CSR project'" (Press release). Astron Limited Ratmalana – The Sunday Observer. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-21. The built environment at the Mount Lavinia main post office, modified to welcome all people with dignity, was re-opened last week. Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera who initiated this programme said: The visionary thinking of Ms. Marise Deckker, the Chairperson of Astron Limited Ratmalana to fund this project to increase accessibility and usability of facilities for people, is highly commendable.
  38. ↑ "'Accessible facilities at Parliament'" (Press release). Sri Lanka Parliament – The Island. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-03. Dr. Ajith Perera, a Chartered Chemist by profession, who was invited by the Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Kitulgoda, is the Chief Executive of IDIRIYA, a registered organisation that’s exceptionally responsive towards Designing for Inclusion of all people. "
    "Many organisations have already benefited from Perera’s expertise, including HSBC and HNB banks, the Taj Samudra, Taj Airport Garden and Galadari hotels, the British Council, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (for establishing the first SL Standard in building construction), Astron Limited Ratmalana, Mount Lavinia Post Office, Dehiwala Municipal Council, Dehiwala Central Library and the Urban Development Authority at 'Sethsiripaya' Battaramulla.
  39. ↑ Ockersz, Lynn (8 November 2009). "Landmark Supreme Court ruling – A fillip for accessibility rights of disabled.". News – Page 17 (Upali Newspapers – The Sunday Island). Retrieved 2010-01-26. The right of the disabled to have unhindered access to public buildings received a substantial boost when the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled on 14 October 2009, that, among other things, all new public buildings in the country should conform fully to already enacted disability access laws and regulations. "
    ". Buildings in the commercial, recreational, social, educational, residential and industrial categories are expected to come under the purview of these laws, which were included in the statute book some years ago, but which have come to be seen as not fully and energetically implemented."
    " In terms of the SC order, made in respect of case no. SC (FR) 221/2009, these categories of buildings should render their facilities accessible to the disabled, including toilets’, said Dr, Ajit C. Perera, the disability rights activist, who personally represented matters for the disabled before the SC, subsequent to him petitioning the Court on the need to have the laws fully enforced and implemented. "
    ".He said that in addition to toilets, the following ‘key parts’ of buildings should be constructed in accordance with ‘design requirements’ set out in the law: entrances, floor surfaces, pathways and corridors, doors, steps and stairs, hand rails, grab bars, ramps, lifts, car parks and signage. "
    ".The SC order further states that all authorities who are empowered to approve building plans or issue any ‘Certificates of Conformity’ for public buildings, should refrain from doing so in respect of any buildings which violate these orders. "
    ".‘Any violations of the court order would incur punitive repercussions and would be seen as Contempt of Court’, Perera explained.
  40. ↑ Rutnam, Easwaran (4 August 2013). "A Fight For Equal Access". Focus – Page 16 (Leader Newspapers – The Sunday Leader). Retrieved 2013-08-08. It was a fight for equal rights, as an order last week to the Agencies of the State to ensure that those with fight by Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera which ended in victory, saw the Supreme Court issuing restricted ability is given every opportunity to integrate freely with the community.”
  41. ↑ "Chartered Chemist goes to Supreme Court". News – Page 2 (Wijeya Newspapers – The Sunday Times). 26 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-20. A wheel-chair bound professional Chartered Chemist and activist for disabled persons, Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera has gone to the Supreme Court against the 50 plus Ministers in the Cabinet in a Fundamental Rights application where he is calling for the implementation of the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act No. 28 of 1996 which provides for the rights of persons with disabilities. "
    " The petition filed by Sudath Perera Associates on behalf of Dr. Perera states that he is seeking redress for this large community of people as a public interest litigation case and calls for the ensuring of better standards of living for persons with disabilities, empowering them with productive and gainful opportunities, prevention of safety hazards, redeeming their dignity, maximizing social integration and minimizing the need for dependants, among other factors. "
    " He says that there are no signs that the Government is moving towards the implementation of the regulations brought to introduce these measures in public buildings, and that there is a failure to implement these laws even in respect of NEW constructions coming up within the municipalities and other areas.
  42. ↑ "Supreme Court order propels ‘accessibility for all’". Features – Page 16 (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited – Daily News). 13 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-24. Perhaps for the first time, the unassuming but able voice of disabled persons praying for ‘justice to access public facilities’ echoed loud and clears at the country's apex court. "
    " A fundamental rights application aimed at preventing further colossal losses the country incurs, was filed at the Supreme Court by Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera. Submissions were made on behalf of disabled persons by this disabled petitioner appearing in person. It was a significant achievement, 'not simply' but the hard way. "
    " Laws to require public buildings and facilities to be made accessible to disabled persons were established in 1996 and further strengthened by the introduction of accessibility regulations under this law in 2005 and thereafter, receiving unanimous Parliament approval. "
    " However, inept stagnant bureaucracy failed to establish a formal mechanism to implement and pursue the legislation and thereby to deliver practical effect, even in respect of new public buildings. "
    " "The Court recognised that in terms of the 'Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' Act No. 28 of 1996 and accessibility regulations made there under, no person should be discriminated on the ground of disability and their mobility restricted in a manner which precludes or impedes them from gaining reasonable physical access to public buildings and facilities provided within such buildings, especially the toilet facilities. "
    ".Accordingly, the Court ordered the following. "
    ".1. All new public buildings as defined in the accessibility regulations No.1 of 2006, should provide 'reasonable access' to persons with physical disabilities. "
    " 2. All authorities that are empowered to approve building plans or issue any 'Certificate of Conformity' for public buildings should refrain from doing so in respect of any building which would violate this court order. "
    " 3. Failure to comply would draw punitive repercussions as set out in the law (which would very soon be made more stringent) . "
    " 4. The proceedings were terminated with liberty to you to file a motion, if there is any violation of the court orders. "
    " Clarification of court orders . "
    " What's acceptable as 'reasonable access'? It means the following key parts of a new public building stipulated by the accessibility regulations in force, not just the entrances, should be designed in accordance with the minimum design requirements there: floor surfaces, pathways and corridors, doors and entrances, steps and stairs, hand rails and grab bars, ramps (where needed), lifts, toilets, car parks and signage. "
    " Design requirements provide the basic essential architectural needs that address the diverse mobility needs of the widest possible range of persons.
  43. ↑ Dissanayake, Dayananda. (8 January 2010). "Signed Official Reply Letter". Commissioner of Elections. Quote from this document: " I am writing to acknowledge the receipt of your letter to me dated 4th January 2010 and to inform you that, I have requested the District Returning Officers to give attention to YOUR REQUEST and provide whatever facilities possible to aged and disabled voters.
  44. ↑ "‘Enabling elections for disabled persons’". Features – Page 34 (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited – Daily News). 23 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-28. Every person who qualifies to be an elector and registered in the appropriate register of electors is eligible to vote at the elections. Out of the estimated 14.5 million eligible voters here, around two million are physically disabled persons. "
    ".We believe these endeavours would also enable the 'staff on duty at polling stations' to be sensitive to the special needs of disabled voters, including those with visual and / or hearing impairments. "
    ".Perera has just been informed by the Elections Commissioner that District Election Officers and Returning Officers have already been informed by the Elections Commissioner to give attention to his request and provide possible facilities to enable disabled voters. "
    ".This we appreciate very much with gratitude and believe it is a step closer towards 'enabling the disabled' including at elections.
  45. ↑ "‘Accessible polling booths for enabling elections’". News – Page 14 (Wijeya Newspapers – Sunday Times). 17 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-27. Every person who qualifies to be an elector and registered in the appropriate register of electors is eligible to vote. Of the estimated 14.5 million eligible voters, around 2 million are physically dis-abled persons. "
    ".However, I am personally aware of many people and, that includes persons with debilitating ailments or conditions that often go unnoticed, persons with restricted mobility and/or visually impaired on the basis of short term or long term physical/sensory disability, elderly and even the pregnant, who although very much desired to go and cast their valuable votes have been reluctantly compelled to refrain from exercising this right, due to potential safety hazards and/or physical barriers either in approaching their polling stations and / or accessing their polling booths – i.e. the right to access, another vital public facility. "
    ".Furthermore, Perera has taken the initiative in compiling a simple check-list as a guideline and forwarded to the people concerned with the sincere belief that it will help them to promptly identify in advance through a very simple self-audit, any potential physical barriers to access by all at all polling stations and thereafter would easily enable them to eliminate most of them, in the larger interest of a free and fair election for disabled people.
  46. ↑ A Group of professionals with ‘Restricted Ability’ contest Parliamentary Elections. Sunday Times - 2, Retrieved on 25 December 2015
  47. ↑ Dr. Perera laments political apathy towards the disabled. Daily FT, Retrieved on 24 December 2015
  48. ↑ +Our voices have to be heard in Parliament – Dr. Ajith Perera. Sunday Times, Retrieved on 25 December 2015
  49. 1 2 "Press Release by D.O.J.F. ‘Disability activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera felicitated’". The Island – Upali Newspapers Colombo 13. Retrieved 2012-05-05. The Disability Organisations Joint Front (DOJF), the registered umbrella organisation in Sri Lanka of over 23 active approved disability organisations, presented Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera with a special plaque at a unique felicitation ceremony held at Hotel Renuka, Colombo on Saturday 11 June 2010 to befittingly recognised and warmly appreciated with gratitude, his long years of pioneering voluntary endeavours with unreserved commitment , competence, and invaluable contribution to the promotion and establishment of 'Accessibility to the Built Environment', enhancing social inclusion with safety for all.
  50. 1 2 3 "Press Release by OIUCM ‘International recognition for activist.’". Sunday Times – Wijeya Newspapers Colombo 02. Retrieved 2012-05-07. A humanitarian award – a framed accolade of excellence – was presented to Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera by the Open International University for Complementary Medicines (OIUCM) at its 49th World Congress held last week at the BMICH in Colombo. This honour was conferred in recognition and appreciation of the invaluable contribution and excellence of Dr. Perera's work- in fostering the ideals of humanitarianism in promotion of accessibility to the built environment enhancing social inclusion for all. This award was presented to Dr. Perera by Professor Dr. Dame Nguyen Theresa Thu Thuy, International Vice Chancellor of OIUCM, Victoria Australia; Professor Dr. Sir John Hopson – Grand Master of the Knights of Charity, England; and Professor Dr. Sir Mayisvren Ellappen – Dean, Faculty of Complementary Medicines, Allianze University College of Medical Sciences, Malaysia.
  51. ↑ "Press Release by HRCSL ‘HRCSL's gratitude and sincere thanks to Dr Ajith Perera.’". Financial Times – Wijeya Newspapers Colombo 02. Retrieved 2012-05-10. The Human Rights Committee of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has a duty to pay special attention to the protection of the right to accessibility of vulnerable groups of persons comprising of elders, persons with restricted abilities, pregnant mothers, women and children, said HRCSL chairman, former Supreme Court Judge Priyantha Perera, delivering the opening remarks at a special media conference organised by the educational and special programmes division of the HRCSL, held recently at its Kynsey Road Auditorium. Justice Priyantha Perera expressed HRCSL's gratitude and sincere thanks to Dr Ajith Perera for taking the initiative single-handed in obtaining a court order from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, for his invaluable contributions as an activist in this field and for the invitation extended by him to the HRCSL to initiate all necessary action to safeguard rights of those vulnerable groups through the right implementation of the court order expeditiously, in the larger national interest.
  52. ↑ Wright, Graeme (1 May 2000). Cricket Books, 1999. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2000 (Guildford, Surrey, England: John Wisden & Co. Limited.). pp. 1501–1502. ISBN 0-947766-57-X. ……the way Sri Lanka applied their cheery disposition to winning the World Cup in 1996 did redefine for a time, the approach to playing one-day cricket. Ajith Perera has captured here the brilliance, the philosophy and the drama of that glorious period. His disability furthered his devotion to cricket; and his book is an impressive memento…….
  53. ↑ Wright, Graeme (5 May 2003). Cricket Books, 2001. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2002 (Guildford, Surrey, England: John Wisden & Co. Limited.). pp. 1535–1536. ISBN 0-947-76670-7. Gerry Vaidysekera, Wisden’s longstanding Sri Lankan correspondent drew my attention to a new coaching book; in fact, a new kind of coaching book. …… However, his circumstances are not why Thinking Cricket is an outstanding achievement. Amply illustrated, it has been carefully and thoughtfully conceived and executed to assist coaches, parents and players at all levels. ….. Ajith Perera never underestimates the fact that cricket today is a mind game……."
    "As Dav Whatmore, Sri Lanka’s national coach, writes in his foreword, it’s an innovative and totally different approach to coaching books. ……It concentrates on the content and never loses sight of what is required to make a cricketer – in every sense of the word.
  54. ↑ "' Historic occasion for cricket umpires'" (Press release). Sport Desk – The Island. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 'Thinking Cricket', his Magnus Opus, has won admiration for its quality as a self-study training guide and gained much recognition to the country, from the cricketing world, that includes the ICC, MCC, ECB and even the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack (2002).
  55. ↑ Abayasekara, Anne (4 June 2008). "Access Ability For All. Why You?". Midweek Review (Upali Newspapers – The Island). Retrieved 2009-03-15. It was an evening to remember at the Taj Samudra Hotel on May 28th when a representative gathering of invitees met for the launch of a remarkable book focusing on the imperative need for an environment that meets the needs of all people – including those with reduced mobility for whatever reason – was launched and then distributed free to all who were present as a community service initiative".
    "This book makes it very clear how and why an inclusive and enabling environment would be advantageous to all citizens and convince everyone that lack of access to built environments is an important National issue. Age inexorably takes it toll at some time and accidents or sickness can befall anyone at any time. The book itself is exceedingly well put together, with an array of articles from a number of eminent people with experience in this area of making the environment an inclusive one for all segments of society.

References

External links

* Supreme Court Orders of 27 April 2011

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