The Additional Director of the National Youth Brigade and former director of the National Youth Services Council H.M.Herath said that the population of the handicapped in Sri Lanka had increased to 275,000 and that 34,000 of this number were young men and women between the ages of 15 and 24. Addressing the final day ceremony of a youth camp at the Wariyapola training centre for the handicapped he said the number of handicapped youths below 18 was 16,000 and that a majority were not attending school.

He went on to say: “It is depressing that some parents consider handicapped children a burden to the family. Any programme for youth development should be implemented with particular attention being paid to the rehabilitation of the handicapped. Many of the handicapped are young and talented. Given the opportunity, they would engage themselves in gainful and purposeful ventures and live happier, fuller and a pleasanter lives. A young couple came with their mentally retarded child and made a request to enroll him to the Youth Brigade. We obliged. It is heartening to find that his condition is fast improving. The handicapped should be considered as members of society and opportunities provided to use their abilities.”

The Minister of Agriculture, North Western Province H.M.D.B.Herath, said the handicapped should be allowed to move freely with others in society and should not be isolated behind closed doors.

The Regional Director of the Youth Services Council T.L.Nandasiri, District Director, Kurunegala, Sunil Jayamaha, District Officer Kamal Karunadipathy, Youth Development Officer Kapila Gunasekara, and several senior officials were present at the occasion.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka