Ajith C. S. Perera

Ajith C. S. Perera

Ajith C. S. Perera (in February 2009)
Born 29 February 1956
Galle, Sri Lanka earlier Ceylon
Education Royal College Colombo,
University of Colombo
Occupation Chartered Chemist,
Former Senior Cricket Umpire,
Former Senior Manager,
Disability Activist,
Chief Executive IDIRIYA
Parents 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 and also a former test-match-panel Cricket Umpire.[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]

"Cometh the hour, cometh the Man".

Now, by reason of personal adversity, the best out of Perera emerged in making him an accomplished author, writer, speaker, presenter, disability rights activist and an accessibility consultant on 'Enabling Environments' [6] based on universal design principles who has campaigned against arbitrary categorisation of people whose abilities are diverse.[7]

He is the founder and, as of 15 September 2011, 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 chauffer and leaving him instantaneously a paraplegic for life. [4][8][9][2]

Even after becoming suddenly a wheelchair user for lifetime, Perera is still not out at the crease playing a straight bat to life’s googlies. [10] [11]

His ABILITY within disability in continuing to strive to serve humanity, has been an inspiration to everyone.

He has argued in favour of a more productive society that aspires to meet the day-to-day needs of people with diverse abilities [7] and, has spearheaded voluntarily the campaign in Sri Lanka for social inclusion focusing:all-inclusive user-friendly built environments.[11]

Contents

Family

Born to Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera, former Director of Naval Training, Royal Ceylon Navy and former Senior Staff Captain / Nautical Instructor (Training of Deck Officer Cadets) Ceylon Shipping Corporation (1977–1983) [12] and Maureen Johanna Perera, he has one Sister, Deepthi C. J. Guneratne B.Sc.(Botany), M.Sc.(soil chemistry).

Education

Perera completed his primary and secondary education at the Royal Primary School and the Royal College Colombo and thereafter gained B.Sc.(Honours) from the University of Colombo in May 1975 [3] followed by a joint M.Sc. from the University of Colombo and the University of Birmingham in July 1977. He thereby qualified professionally in the field of Analytical Chemistry,[13] 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 [14][15] 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 [16][17] and a Fellow (FIQA) of the Institute of Quality Assurance UK,.[18]

Perera possesses over ten years of work experience as a former senior manager with two multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.[4]

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 his services 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.[19]

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 38, his professional career that was just blossoming out.[4]

Cricket career: 1972 –

Perera served cricket, the game he still loves, with genuine commitment. His impressive scoreboard, as at 2011 July, indicates a stupendous innings (commenced in 1972), recorded as: retired - not out in entering the 39th year.

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.[20]

Major achievements

Perera started playing serious cricket, as a passionate 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.[21]

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]

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.

Perera soon realised, as his short-term goal, the vital importance of qualifying professionally and acquiring practical experience at the highest possible level available to him in several key aspects of the game, so as better to serve Sri Lankan Cricket. [2][22]

In the Preface to The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket Leslie Cheeseman B.E.M. described Perera’s endeavours as:[23]

"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".

As a result Perera became the First Sri Lankan to be accepted and recognised by the prestigious body the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers England as a professionally qualified cricket umpire (24 October 1985),[8] 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][22]

For 15 weeks of the British summer in 1990, Perera, afforded the rare opportunity, umpired matches in England in Lancashire county four-day second eleven and in topmost premier leagues in the area, viz. Bolton & District Cricket Association, Bolton League and Central Lancashire, where the standard of professional competitive cricket was accepted as among the highest in England and gain much needed exposure to professional competitive cricket.[4] [24] [25]

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][26]

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.[20]

Significant Contributions

Despite suddenly becoming a wheelchair user and continuing hardship, Perera is still thinking cricket and wanted to be useful. His dedication and devotion to the game remains stupendous.

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. [27]

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]

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][28]

Perera has also turned a pioneer disability activist campaigning in Sri Lanka for enabling sports environments and user-friendly facilities.[29]

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’. [30]

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 proud recipient (1999) of the star of Asia award for excellence in sports.[9]

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.[31][32]

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. [33][4][34]

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.[35][2]

Disability activist: 1997 –

Perera is a pioneer campaigner in Sri Lanka for social exclusion 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.) [36]

Perera, also the pioneer campaigner in Sri Lanka for enabling sports environments and user-friendly facilities has insisted:[20] "sports should encourage social inclusion of all people. Over three million Sri Lankans, for different reasons, experience restricted mobility. Cricket, football and rugger are spectator sports. Clubs must understand that a spectator lost is a lost revenue opportunity. They should realise it is their moral duty to see their facilities welcome all people at grounds. The little money spent here will be a ‘big Investment’ that will bring dividends, not just expenditure".

Significant Contributions

As a disability rights activist brimming possibilities in the disabled, Perera has aggressively promoted with relentless commitment 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.[37]

The skills he possesses backed by his inherent leadership and integrity, have aided Perera in creating the right awareness, engaging support and catalysing change towards achieving this goal.[11]

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.[38]

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.[39]

Several hotels have already obtained his guidance and advice which is good testimony to his competence also as a disability access auditor who fully understands mobility related access issues and provides the right practical solutions to overcome problems.

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,[11][40] a fact which Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera, the then Chairman SLSI, recognised as an achievement of national importance.[41]

'Let us design to include everyone', is the message which lies at the heart of Enabling Environments for All, a campaign spearheaded by Perera. He believes: "Encouraging the designing of built environments that are compatible to all citizens should be a national goal".[10]

He has revealed the vision with which this mission of national importance is propelled by him.[10][42]

Perera explained: "As life unfolds it is inevitable, for a variety of reasons, that we will experience a drop in our abilities. We all run similar risks that we shall have to live with reduced ability at some time in our life." [43]

He emphasised: "When this happens, nobody should be disadvantaged or socially excluded through a lack of appropriate facilities at man-made public buildings and places. It is not a right that can be negotiated or diluted by anyone, under any circumstances".

Perera elucidated: "There is an obvious and easily available cost effective solution to prevent a series of grievous social problems you will otherwise face and leads to an unwanted colossal waste of our assets: designing our living environments to be enabling is the way forward".

He insisted: "This makes good business sense in maximising its potential and certainly provides a Winning Way for the individual, his or her immediate family, businesses, and society and, in the end a better country".[44]

Major achievements

As identified in the book entitled: 'Access Ability For All' by several professionals; Designing for Inclusion is a highly responsible humanitarian task of national importance involving precious time, money and effort.

As there cannot be any margin for error here, a good understanding of disability related access issues and its intricacies becomes paramount.

Hence, authorities undertaking construction often need expert guidance and the right professional help as to how best to do this after careful assessment of each location.[45][46]

Who can understand the issues, problems and solutions of access and egress better than an experienced dis-Abled person? Nobody.

To fill the void of a dearth of expertise,[36] Perera has also become a trusted friend and a proven asset to the Sri Lankan society.[11]

The list of organisations that have already benefited from his advice and guidance to get what they want is good testimony here.[47][36][38][48][49][50]

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.[51]

Perera, appearing 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.[52]

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 ‘design requirements’ specified in the regulations.[53]

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 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 last Presidential Elections held on 26 January 2010, Perera, in consultation with the Commissioner of Elections initiated voluntary action [54] 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 approchable and accessible to the disabled persons.[55][56]

Books published: 1999 –

Perera in 1999 and then again in 2001 gifted the cricketing world through his own endeavours, two books of great educational value.[57]

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.[58]

Further reading

Thinking Cricket

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

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 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).[59][60]

Further reading

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 with unwavering dedication served Sri Lanka’s Navy and was instrumental in its training in its formative 25 years (1950–1975). Perera Senior saw the establishment of the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) at Dockyard Trincomalee, the turning point in formal Naval training in this country. In particular, the book pays tribute on the 5th anniversary of its subject’s death to the designer, the planner and the creator of the NMA. It is the long story of the Herculean efforts of this unsung hero, who made these and many more to happen over a period extending beyond 30 long years.

Access Ability for All - Why You?

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

It’s an A-5 size consciousness-raising mind opener, free of technical jargon, on Accessibility to built environments to convince everyone that lack of access to built environments has already led to a colossal waste of our assets. It is an important National issue in which it is possible to make major strides forward: a Win - Win game for everyone enabling a formidable and sustainable national economy.

It is also a unique compilation in dispelling stereotypes and removing hang-ups that continue to surround dis-Ability towards establishing a society that does not marginalise or discriminate against persons with restricted mobility.[61]

Notes

  1. ^ Chandrarathne, Ranga (2006-04-02). "Designing to add years to life". Features Page 35 (Sunday Observer). http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/04/02/fea21.html. 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. ^ a b c d e f g Withington, Neil (2007-09-01). "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. ^ a b c Perera, S. S. (2001-03-05). 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. http://royalthomian.info/HTML/articles_pages/RC-01/An%20appreciation.htm. 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Thawfeeq, Sa’adi (2007-02-18). "Paraplegic Ajith campaigns for equality to all". Sports (The Nation on Sunday). http://www.nation.lk/2007/02/18/sports3.htm. 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. ^ a b c Wijedasa, K. L. F. (April 16, 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. ^ "Disability access facilities at Parliament" (Press release). The Island. 2009-01-22. http://www.island.lk/2009/01/22/features7.html. Retrieved 2009-01-23. "Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera visited the Parliament building last week at the invitation of the Secretary General and completed an audit of facilities at identified key areas of this complex that extends over twelve acres. A wheelchair user since 1993, he is a writer, speaker, presenter and a voluntary disability activist who has been a pioneer campaigner in Sri Lanka and also an accessibility consultant for user-friendly public buildings".
    "Dr. Ajith Perera, a Chartered Chemist by profession, 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, Mount Lavinia Post Office, Dehiwala Municipal Council, Dehiwala Central Library and the Urban Development Authority at ‘Sethsiripaya’ Battaramulla"     
  7. ^ a b Samarasekera, Avanti (2008-08-01). "Equal right of access". LMD (Sri Lanka’s pioneering business magazine launched in August 1994) (Colombo: Media Services (Private) Ltd.) 15 (1): 96. ISSN 1391-135X. "Since 1993 a wheelchair user himself, Perera has learnt first-hand the often careless manner in which disabled people are classed as invalids in Sri Lanka. He does not believe in labelling people as ‘differently able’ or ‘physically challenged’. Perera declares: ‘Even twins think and act differently, as life is a challenge for everyone, obliquely critiquing and campaigning against arbitrary categorisation of people whose abilities are diverse".
    " Dr. Ajith Perera is a firm believer in equal rights, especially in the case of those dealing with physical disability. He argues in favour of a more productive society that aspires to meet the day-to-day needs of people with diverse abilities. Since 1997, as an active advocate for the disabled, he has spearheaded the campaign for ‘all-inclusive built environments’ in Sri Lanka."     
  8. ^ a b Veera, Sriram (2009-01-29). more "Retired hurt but not out". Cricinfoblogs Tour Diary India in Sri Lanka 2009.. Cricinfo. http://blogs.cricino.com/tourdiaries/archives/2009/01/retired_hurt_bu.php# more. 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." 
  9. ^ a b Briggs, Simon; Aldred Tanya, Edited by Engel Matthew (2000-04-04). Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2000 (137 ed.). Guildford Surrey: John Wisden & Co. Limited. p. 1533. ISBN 0-947-76657-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."     
  10. ^ a b c Yusuf, Salma (2006-07-09). "Entry made easy". Features Page 4 (Sunday Times). http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060709/plus/pp4.1.html. Retrieved 2009-01-02. "A Chartered Analytical Chemist by profession, Dr. Perera also gained national recognition as a test match panel cricket umpire. However, at a time when bright and prosperous careers, one in industry and the other as a cricket umpire, were simultaneously unfolding for him, a tragic accident – a tree falling on his moving car – left him instantaneously a paraplegic, for the rest of his life. What is most significant is that even after being confined to a wheelchair, through his own endeavours, he continues to inspire us, proving that he is still ‘not out’ and truly a productive citizen."
    "‘Let us design to include everyone’, is the message which lies at the heart of ‘Enabling Environments for All’, a campaign spearheaded by Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera. Encouraging the designing of built environments that are compatible to all citizens should be a national goal, says Dr. Perera. At a presentation made recently to the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), where he was invited as guest speaker, Dr. Perera revealed the vision, aims and objectives of his campaign." 
  11. ^ a b c d e Gunaratne, Rochelle Palipane (2008-11-28). "Ajith ably faces fate’s googlies" (PDF). Leisure Land Page 1 (The Island Issue 283). http://www.island.lk/2008/11/28/L1.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-03. "Retires…..But ‘Not Out’: Ajith Perera is still at the crease playing a straight bat to life’s googlies. Besides silently fighting a daunting daily battle, he volunteers as a Disability Activist / Advocate. Since 1997, he has spearheaded a campaign for ‘all-inclusive user-friendly built environments’ in Sri Lanka."
    "The skills he possess in designing and organising, writing, speaking and presentation, backed by his inherent leadership and integrity, have aided him in creating the right awareness, engaging support and catalysing change towards making the real difference."
    "He was also instrumental in persuading the Sri Lanka Standards Institution to establish for the first time a Sri Lankan standard for design in building construction in 2007."
    "Accessibility to built environments is a National issue, but there is certainly a dearth of architects, engineers and constructors who are ‘truly’ competent enough to do a meaningful job for ‘inclusivity of all’. To prevent waste of money, time and effort in filling this void, at least as a short term measure, let us recognise that in Dr. Ajith Perera, we have here a proven asset to the Sri Lankan society."     
  12. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2004-08-10). 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." 
  13. ^ "What is Analytical Chemistry?". http://www.acs-analytical.duq.edu/whatisanalyticalchem.html. 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)." 
  14. ^ "Formal certificate issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the U.K. signed by President and Registrar". RSC. April 01,1999. "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." 
  15. ^ "Who is an Analytical Chemist?". http://www.acs-analytical.duq.edu/whatisanalyticalchem.html. 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." 
  16. ^ "What is The Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon?". http://www.ichemc.com/about.html. 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." 
  17. ^ "Who is a Fellow of The Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon?". http://www.ichemc.com/about.html. 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’." 
  18. ^ "What is The Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA) in the U.K.?". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Quality_Institute. Retrieved 2009-02-21. "The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), formerly known as The Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA), originally founded in 1919 as the Institute of Engineering Inspection, is the leading professional body for the advancement of quality practices in the UK. It is a not-for-profit organisation and a respected contributor to policy issues at a national and international level. It has maintained its unique position of independence from commercial or vested interests and embraces all quality models, philosophies and standards that help an organisation improve performance. The IQA was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II, when she approved the decision to grant the Charter at the July meeting of the Privy Council. On 1 January 2007 the IQA became the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)." 
  19. ^ Teresa Harris, (Editor) (1991-07-01). "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." 
  20. ^ a b c Rodrigopulle, Elmore (2007-05-22). "Enabling environments". Sports Page 40 (Daily News). http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/22/spo10.asp. 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".
    "Not satisfied with what he had achieved Perera is now on an ‘Enabling Environments for Everyone’ campaign. He is     the pioneer campaigner here for ‘enabling sports environments and user-friendly facilities".
    " ‘In Sri Lanka, with poorly designed facilities even international sports venues, deny people’s inclusion. Instead,     sports should encourage social inclusion of all people’, lamented Perera. Cricket, football and rugger are spectator sports. It is time clubs must think optimistically and soon put income generating ideas into action. Clubs must realise that every spectator is a potential income earning opportunity and that a spectator lost is a lost revenue opportunity. Over 16% here (ie 3 Million people) have restricted mobility. A prerequisite here is to respect the inevitable ‘disability of people’ as human diversity and realise it is their moral responsibility to see their facilities welcome all people at grounds. The little money spent here is a 'big investment bringing dividends', not just expenditure." 
  21. ^ Balachandran Kanishkaa, (editorial assistant of Cricinfo) (2006-10-05). "Cricinfo Sri Lanka domestic cricket - A brief history". Cricinfo.. Cricinfo. http://content-sl.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/current/story/261477.html. 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." 
  22. ^ a b "Historic occasion for Sri Lanka cricket scorers" (Press release). Lake House (Daily News) - Sports. 2007-08-30. http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/08/30/spo05.asp. Retrieved 2009-02-15. "The significant contributions Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera has made to cricket, mostly through his dedicated achievements together with his willingness to further improve individual performance, extends into almost all avenues of cricket one could think of and thereby perhaps remain unparallel".
    "Sri Lanka gained ‘test status’ in 1981. Yet, it was the era when scoring was never given any kind of importance here. Ajith soon realised his short term goal and decided to go to England and qualify professionally in several key aspects of the game ; even sacrificing his own funds, so as to serve better Sri Lankan Cricket".
    "In the late 80 decade he achieved his goals here to become the ‘First Sri Lankan’ to be accepted and recognised as a professionally qualified scorer (1987), then also as a ‘Scorer competent in advanced scoring techniques’ (1989) and finally as a ‘professional training instructor’ both for Scorers and Umpires (1990), by the prestigious body in England for Umpires and Scorers, ACU&S."     
  23. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S.. (1999-04-18). The Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cricket (first ed.). Colombo: author. pp. IX–XI. ISBN 955-96698-0-X. "Preface." 
  24. ^ FitzGibbon, R. B. (September 6, 1990). "Signed Official Document". By: The then Secretary Lancashire County Cricket Club. "Quote from this document: "We were happy to offer Mr. Ajith Perera one four-day game in the County 2nd XI Competition vs Somerset and a one-day game vs Lancashire Schools’ Under 19’s. His colleague in the four-day game was former test umpire Mr. Don Oslear from the first class list, who, with our Captain, found Mr. Perera’s performance to be commendable. This prompted us to offer him a further County 2nd XI Competition 4-day game and also invited him to umpire 2nd XI again in 1991." 
  25. ^ Robins, W. T. (September 3, 1990). "Signed Official Document". By: The then Vice President Lancashire County Cricket Club and former Chairman of the ACU&S Training Board. "Quote from this document: "We are immensely impressed that Mr. Perera should have come to England for the 1990 season…… I was able to ensure that Mr. Perera was offered two county 2nd XI 4-day matches. You will agree that the standard of cricket in Lancashire Leagues is accepted as amongst the highest in England; clubs are required to engage a professional cricketer for the season and many Test Stars from other countries are employed in this capacity. He also stood regularly in matches in the Bolton League and Bolton & District Cricket Association - two of our Premier Leagues."
    "As Chairman of ACU&S Instructors’ Assessment Panel, with two of my colleagues…, I listened to Mr Perera give a lecture on Law 3. ….Overall , we were most impressed by his general performance as an Instructor."     
  26. ^ Gunaratne, Tissa (November 11, 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..."     
  27. ^ Bernadus, Carlton (August 26, 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 it’s 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….." 
  28. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2001-09-18). 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." 
  29. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2008-08-19). "Cricket where Everybody is Included - "An investment for a better tomorrow"". Features Page 8 (Upali Newspapers - The Island). http://www.island.lk/2008/08/19/features3.html. 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." 
  30. ^ Amarasinghe, Saman (May 8, 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." 
  31. ^ Fernando, R. L. (2003-01-17). "Janashakthi Insurance the first to felicitate our retired cricket umpires". Sports Page 18 (Upali Newspapers - The Island). http://www.island.lk/2003/01/17/sports06.html. 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 p.m. 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."     
  32. ^ "Historic occasion for cricket umpires" (Press release). Upali Newspapers - The Island. 2003-02-04. http://www.island.lk/2003/02/06/sports04.html. 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."     
  33. ^ "Ajith Perera to be honoured today" (Press release). Daily News. 2005-09-30. http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/09/30/spo04.htm. 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."     
  34. ^ "Recognition given to sports literature" (Press release). Daily News. 2005-10-04. http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/10/04/spo04.htm. 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."     
  35. ^ "Historic occasion for Lanka cricket scorers" (Press release). Lake House - Daily News. 2007-08-30. http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/08/30/spo05.asp. 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 p.m. at the Bloomfield Cricket Grounds."     
  36. ^ a b c Chandrarathne, Ranga; Thilakarathne, Indeewara (2007-11-25). "Universal accessibility a modern prerequisite". Plus - Features (Lake House - Sunday Observer). http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/11/25/plus03.asp. 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."     
  37. ^ Ockersz, Lynn (2006-03-27). "Disability no dead-end". Features, OP-ED Page (Lake House - Daily News). http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/03/27/fea05.asp. Retrieved 2009-02-02. "Perera, has been aggressively promoting with relentless commitment a society that does not exclude people with limited mobility. The greatest asset a person has, according to Perera, is the ability to go about one's 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." 
  38. ^ a b Ockersz, Lynn (2007-11-25). "Brimming possibilities in the dis-abled". Features, Volume 29, Issue 47 (Upali Newspapers - Sunday Island). http://www.island.lk/2007/11/25/features7.html. 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."     
  39. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S.. (2008-05-04). 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." 
  40. ^ "Design to include, not exclude, all people" (Press release). Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). 2007-11-29. http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/11/29/fea06.asp. 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.)" 
  41. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2008-05-04). Access Ability For All - Why You? (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRYA. p. 111. ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4. "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."     
  42. ^ Chandrarathne, Ranga (2006-04-02). "Designing to add years to life". Features - Page 35 (Lake House - Sunday Observer). http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/04/02/fea21.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. "These facts were revealed on 27 March 2006 by Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera at Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo to a packed distinguished audience made up of Chief Executives and Senior Managers of key business organizations and some relevant professional bodies in the building, designing and construction industry: "
    "Drop in our ability due to many reasons is inevitable and could happen to any of us equally at any time. In fact, we all live with reduced ability at some time in life. However, once caught, you will realise that you are trapped in a vicious cycle of exclusion and is like a Wounded Horse, at the mercy of everyone! As the majority of them are still able and productive, nobody should be disadvantaged or socially excluded through man-made public buildings and places. It is not a right that can be negotiated or diluted by anyone, under any circumstances."
    "What is most encouraging is that we have a realistic, achievable and an effective solution to extenuate a series of grievous social problems you will otherwise face as consequences. Designing our living environments to include everyone and common to all is an investment. A ramp and a wide doorway will not achieve this goal. It is an art with a science, taking into consideration many a factor."
    "But once done, they offer a world of opportunity and bring some benefits to everyone! 'Enabling Environments' certainly sets out a big way forward. It makes good business sense and certainly it is a 'Winning Way' to the individual, immediate family, businesses, society and at the end a better country, concluded Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera."     
  43. ^ Kotelawela, Himal (2008-06-22). "Designing to include the disabled". Features Plus - Page 7 (Wijeya Newspapers - Sunday Times). http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080622/Plus/timesplus0015.html. Retrieved 2009-01-23. "Disability is a major, but little talked about problem in Sri Lanka, says Dr. Perera. The chances are that any of us, for different reasons – the process of inevitable decay being only one – is certain to spend some time of our life with reduced ability and at any given time it’s a grievous social problem that affects a wide and diverse range of people, he says."
    "The quality of life you enjoy would greatly depend on how accommodating and user-friendly man-made physical environments around you are, he adds, explaining the necessity of ‘designing for inclusion."     
  44. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2008-05-04). Access Ability For All - Why You? (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRIYA. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4. "Chapter 14: Fifteen Benefits ‘Enabling Environments’ Bring." 
  45. ^ Perera, Ajith C. S. (2008-05-04). Access Ability For All. Why You? (first ed.). Colombo: IDIRYA. p. 207. ISBN 978-955-1914-00-4. "Appendix III Helping organisations to comply with the Access Regulations. By: Professor Wilfred S. C. Perera et al":
    "Designing for Inclusion is an art with science and a highly responsible task of national importance involving money, precious time and effort. It requires a good understanding of its intricacies."
    " Professionals responsible for buildings are expected to do their utmost to comply with both the letter and the spirit of the Regulations. "
    " But authorities undertaking constructions may well need expert guidance. as to how best to do this, after careful assessment of each location separately, as each is different."     
  46. ^ Editor, Daily News (2008-12-10). "Random thoughts on ‘World Human Rights Day’". Editorial - Page 8 (Lake House - Daily News). http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/12/10/fea002.asp. Retrieved 2009-03-12. "Attempted implementation of ‘Internationally Accepted Regulations’ by professionals on this fundamental right runs high risks of failure, unless backed by a good understanding of its intricacies and practical experience. As such it is a wise move and an investment to seek expert guidance from those with Insight and Proven Competence on this subject!" 
  47. ^ "'Access for all'" (Press release). HSBC Sri Lanka - The Sunday Leader. 2008-08-03. http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080803/BUSINESS.HTM. 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."     
  48. ^ Kuruwita, Rathindra (2008-11-30). "Enabling environments for all". News - Features - Page 12 (Rivira Media Corporation - The Nation on Sunday). http://www.nation.lk/2008/11/30/eyefea4.htm. 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."     
  49. ^ "'Astron in laudable CSR project'" (Press release). Astron Limited Ratmalana - The Sunday Observer. 2007-02-04. http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/02/04/fin16.asp. 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." 
  50. ^ "'Accessible facilities at Parliament'" (Press release). Sri Lanka Parliament - The Island. 2009-01-22. http://www.island.lk/2009/01/22/features7.html. 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."     
  51. ^ Ockersz, Lynn (2009-11-08). "Landmark Supreme Court ruling – A fillip for accessibility rights of disabled.". News - Page 17 (Upali Newspapers - The Sunday Island). http://www.island.lk/2009/11/08/news-17.jpg. 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."     
  52. ^ "Chartered Chemist goes to Supreme Court". News - Page 2 (Wijeya Newspapers - The Sunday Times). 2009-04-26. http://sundaytimes.lk/090426/News/sundaytimesnews_07.html. 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."     
  53. ^ "Supreme Court order propels ‘accessibility for all’". Features - Page 16 (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited – Daily News). 2009-11-13. http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/11/13/fea25.asp. 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."     
  54. ^ Dissanayake, Dayananda. (January 8, 2010 Ref: PRE/2010/10). "Signed Official Reply Letter". By: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." 
  55. ^ "‘Enabling elections for disabled persons’". Features - Page 34 (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited – Daily News). 2010-01-23. http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/01/23/fea11.asp. 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."     
  56. ^ "‘Accessible polling booths for enabling elections’". News - Page 14 (Wijeya Newspapers – Sunday Times). 2010-01-17. http://sundaytimes.lk/100117/News/nws_73.html. 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."     
  57. ^ "' Historic occasion for cricket umpires'" (Press release). Sport Desk - The Island. 2003-02-06. http://www.island.lk/2003/02/06/sports04.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. "Perera has gifted the cricketing world through his own endeavours, two books of great educational value. He had even none to support him financially." 
  58. ^ Wright, Graeme (2000-05-01). Cricket Books, 1999. Guildford, Surrey, England: John Wisden & Co. Limited.. 1501–1502. ISBN 0-947-76657-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……." 
  59. ^ Wright, Graeme (2003-05-05). Cricket Books, 2001. Guildford, Surrey, England: John Wisden & Co. Limited.. 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."     
  60. ^ "' Historic occasion for cricket umpires'" (Press release). Sport Desk - The Island. 2003-02-06. http://www.island.lk/2003/02/06/sports04.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. "'Thinking Cricket', his Magnus Opus [sic], 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)." 
  61. ^ Abayasekara, Anne (2008-06-04). "Access Ability For All. Why You?". Midweek Review (Upali Newspapers - The Island). http://www.island.lk/2008/06/04/midweek6.html. 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

Further reading

External links

* Supreme Court Orders of 27 April 2011 - ‘Accessibility with Safety for All’