The disabled presently constitute about ten percent of the registered voters; in view of the ongoing war, malnutrition and natural causes. Up to date this constituency has had no representations, in our premier legislative body, unlike in the case of the mother of parliament where a cabinet portfolio was given to a person with vision disability.

As the disabled in Sri Lanka, are a neglected lot the time has come, for all political parties, to accommodate on the National List, at least, one disabled person as there are a large number of graduates, attorneys-at-law and computer literate persons who, though disabled, are fluent rational thinkers and speakers than the majority of our legislators who are unable to make any constructive contribution in the debates on various bills, introduced in parliament, other than to enrich the vocabulary of unparliamentary language or improve on sounds made by animals.

On behalf of the disabled I urge that, constitutionally, provision be made to reserve a reasonable percentage of those to be appointed, to the supreme legislative body, on the National List for the disabled. I hope that the JVP would play a lead role regarding this matter, as it did in setting up the Constitutional Council and the four Independent Commissions.

L. L. de Silva
Colombo 04