Legal aid clinic and disability law awareness program in Kalutara

 The Law Students Association of Sri Lanka (LSASL) in collaboration with the UNDP Equal Access to Justice Project and the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka, will hold a Legal Aid Clinic and Disability Law Awareness Program for those residing in the Kalutara District.

The purpose of this project is to create awareness on Disability Law in Sri Lanka while also serving as a Legal Aid Clinic for the general public. This program is to be held on the 6th of October 2012, at the Kalutara District Secretariat Hall, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 “We believe that access to justice is pivotal for the up keeping of law and all citizens should be able to seek recourse to our legal system. However, with the increasing cost of living it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to bear the cost of legal consultations. As a result, many in rural parts of Kalutara suffer in silence as they cannot bear the high cost of litigation. Hence, to remedy this situation we feel that a legal aid clinic will greatly benefit the people of Kalutara,” a spokesman for organizers said.
“In addition, we hope to focus on Disability Law in Sri Lanka through an awareness campaign. To this end we intend on hosting a workshop briefing those with disabilities of their legal rights and entitlements. Moreover, we feel that in a country where 8-10% of the population (census of population and housing 2001), consists of disable persons, it is of utmost importance that Law Enforcement Officers, Law Students and the General Public have an understanding on Disability Law in Sri Lanka. In addition, we hope to sign a document from all attendees requesting the State to ratify the United Nations Convention for Rights of persons with Disabilities to which Sri Lanka became a signatory in 2007,” the spokesman added.