Though you are physically handicapped, you are stronger than most of the others in our society and I am eternally grateful to the strength you all gave me to defeat LTTE, the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

"You are the only ones who can hold your head high and live with dignity and self respect. You too have the same rights as they to live with dignity. What you ask is not sympathy but the right to exist. I like to remind you that I will always respect and pay heed to this request," said President to disabled servicemen at a function held to mark the International Day of Persons of Disabilities.

He said during the recent past there were those who sacrificed their eyes in the battle front so that the rest could witness a country which was in tact.

“There were also those who sacrificed their legs so that we can today walk freely on our soil. These are the real heroes,” the President said.

“We have now put in motion a program to look into your well-being and welfare. That is a duty cast on us. You have the right to decide if I am capable of accomplishing this task. That decision lies with you.

The President said one of the yardsticks by which a society is judged is the way in which that society treats its disabled. “Going by such a barometer I am certain that our country is up there on the top. We will endeavour to provide you with a life that would enable you to live with self-respect,” President Rajapaksa said.

He said: “Under the Mahinda Chintana we promised to provide each family of a disabled, Rs. 3,000. We also provided Rs. 100,000 on a monthly repayment basis and taken steps to grant relief based on age limits.

There are between 10-12 percent of disabled persons in the country. But it appears that you all did not receive proper attention because you were not provided with easy entry facilities to Government offices.

“We have now ordered all State institutions to design entrances so as to facilitate entry to disabled persons.

The Urban Development Authority and the Central Environment Authority have been specifically tasked to ensure that all public institutions adhere to this requirement.”
Instructions have also been given to build railway platforms to facilitate the accommodation of disabled persons.

The Northern railway track that is now under construction will ensure easy access to trains for the disabled, he said.