Features

Disability studies established in Lanka, Nalin’s heart attack in Johannesburg

Published

2 years ago

2023/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Some remarkable Japanese CBR workers

(Excerpted from Memories that Linger: My journey through
the world of disability
by Padmani Mendis)

The work done by the Disability Studies Unit (DSU) in Sri Lanka I have chronicled with my memories at home in Sri Lanka in a later section. Here let me recall but one other outstanding contribution that the DSU made at that time to the pursuit of disability studies and its practice. Through an agreement signed with the Child Health Unit of the University of London and the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, a course for the education of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) was pioneered in 1998.

Since we had just one SLT at the time, we arranged for the London counterparts to send us six SLT teachers a year, each for one month for a period of six years, until some of ours could take over teaching functions. They also sent us Mary Wickenden as a full-time course coordinator for three years. Kelaniya University would establish relevant posts in the DSU by this time. What started as a diploma course became a degree course not much later. Soon those graduates were following masters degrees and then doing their doctoral degrees.

We started by selling our SLT course to the Ministry of Health for just six students at a cost of Rupees 90,000 per student per year. The ministry was required to establish a cadre and increase it annually. Private students were also enrolled. The DSU continued as a self-financing unit. When diplomas became degrees, I believe that initiative was no longer needed because the costs were met by the university.

The DSU is now a Department of Disability Studies or DDS with a large cadre of staff carrying out two degree courses. It has in the chair a Professor of Childhood Disability. A Disability Resource Centre to support disabled students and a Centre for Disability Research chaired by the Dean run alongside the DDS. The DDS is also the technical resource for the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Children run by the University. It is called Ayathi.

Parting with satisfaction and fulfilment

I was sad to leave the DSU. Prof. Carlo Fonseka was no more the Dean. When leadership changes, so do policies. Disability was no longer viewed as a social issue and one of human rights. This was a Faculty of Medicine. It was made known to me that the responsibility for running the DSU would be taken over by a Senior Medical Teacher.

It was time for me to go. I left with a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. I look back on that experience with an immense sense of joy. And of appreciation to the people of Sweden who made that possible. And then I continued on my journey in the World of Disability. This time with invitations also from the Japanese and the Norwegians.

Japan and Norway, major CBR supporters

Looking back, I wonder how I may, at this time of my life, share with you adequately my memories of all those other great individuals and organisations who contributed to the growth and development of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and with whom I had a relationship in those early decades. All those people, those who lived with disability and those who did not, were concerned about improving the lot of a neglected, often oppressed section of our society. A few who I have not written about as yet come to mind. Of them, two press urgently on my memory. They are the Japanese and the Norwegians. Although I will spend some time with these two, that is not to say I have forgotten the many others. So before I go to those, let me share with you memories of Handicap International and of a personal experience in South Africa.

Handicap International

Handicap International, better known perhaps as HI, is one that brings back memories. They invited me to work in Nepal on many occasions to see the Nepalese on their way with CBR. I first met HI as a new-born in 1982 as Operation Handicap International or OHI. OHI had its headquarters in Lyon, France, not far from Geneva. Its co-founder, Jean-Baptiste Richardier, met us often at WHO and gave us valuable information and advice on appropriate assistive devices to include in the WHO Manual. And on other matters in general.

My relationship with HI was a long one though we did not meet frequently. It continued until much later, when they would call me in Colombo for briefings and discussions leading to work when needed. I hear that it is now called Humanity and Inclusion with branches in many countries. The name change was apparently to reflect that their work was no more confined to disabled people. It is also extended to other vulnerable groups. My, how it has grown in 40 years. Just wonderful.

South Africa, University of Witwatersrand and a Personal Experience

I cannot forget Marjorie Concha, a CBR pioneer in South Africa and Professor of Occupational Therapy at Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, and her staff. Marj invited me over to meet with professionals in that part of the world and to visit a CBR project started by her department. Plans were first a three-day meeting with the professionals. Then a weekend at Krueger National Park with Marj and her husband Ettel, and thereafter on to CBR. The project was in Tintswalo in North Eastern Transvaal and adjoining the park.

This was a rare occasion on which Nalin had joined me. South Africa and Krueger wildlife could not be missed. But that was not to be.

At the end of the third day and with the end of the meeting, Nalin took ill. The hospital doctor instructed us to go to the Heart Hospital a few kilometres down the road (from our hotel). We found out later that this hospital was built for whites only during the apartheid regime. No expense had therefore been spared. It was the best that it could be. Thanks to the great Nelson Mandela, it was now open also to blacks, browns, the yellow-skinned and to all colours of the rainbow.

The Heart Hospital in Johannesburg

The warm and friendly young native African doctor who saw us was a cricket fan and knew well of our country. Sri Lanka was known all over the world not just for our tea, but also for our cricket. He talked of Arjuna, Murali and Aravinda. Sri Lankan Cricket was reason enough for his special concern.

Soon he told us that Nalin had had a heart attack. He arranged for Nalin to be admitted immediately. By this time it was nearly midnight but the Specialist came without delay. He told me the damage to the heart was extensive and severe. He had Nalin put on all the necessary life-saving machines. He said he would be back in the morning and carry out the required tests to make an accurate diagnosis.

He advised me to go back to the hotel and return at seven when he would be back. When I did go back in the morning, Nalin was in heart failure and in a coma. He remained in that state for the next four days. I was allowed to sit by his bedside all day. I had my meals in the hospital canteen. Nalin had a specialist nursing sister attending on him full-time, monitoring him closely. Each day would be written on his bed-head ticket, “Patient’s condition uncertain. Family informed.”

Back at the hotel on that first night there was much to be done. Communication by fax with the insurance people in London was a priority. But guess what? The insurance people informed the hospital that they would not meet our cost. We found out later that this was the reason – apparently Sri Lankans were notorious for travel insurance fraud. They would take out a travel insurance, go to a place like the UK, have pre-planned surgery and make costly insurance claims. So the London insurance people presumed we were one of the same breed. They refused our claim.

Fortunately, the owner of our insurance agency in Sri Lanka was Nihal Senaratne. Nihal came up trumps. He told the insurance people what the consequences of their refusal would be. All Nalin’s bills were settled. Otherwise that experience would at that time have cost us about USD 20,000. Such was the hospital. Such was the quality of care. Cheap in terms of the result.

Meanwhile my Lecture Tour was put an end to. But Marj and her staff did not end their relationship with me. They were in touch with me constantly through every day. I told them what I needed urgently was to get to a shopping centre. Two colleagues took me to one where I could buy for Nalin a couple of pairs of pyjamas. As a Sri Lankan, he wore only sarong at night. I was preparing for when he would come out of the coma. I knew he would recover. He had to. And then he had to have some smart pyjamas to walk around the hospital in.

Being with the Japanese

The Japanese came into CBR later, having first I suppose to look into their own disability situation. If I may name one individual who led the support for CBR in that amazing country, it was Yukiko Oka Nakanishi. She had lived with severe disability since the age of four years when she had polio. Yukiko’s empathy with people in the developing world who had disability themselves and for others of us who worked in the field of disability was infinite.

With her knowledge and commitment she earned the trust of JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. She was one of its consultants and advisers it seems to me forever. JICA is the implementing agency of official Japanese development aid that supports socio-economic development and economic stability in developing countries. Influenced by Japan’s disabled people, JICA continued to push forward strategies to realise the full participation and equality of disabled persons globally.

Yukiko Oka Nakanishi

Yukiko was married to Shoji Nakanishi who also lived with very severe disability from a very young age. They are perfect partners, complementing each other’s work based on their life’s experiences before they met. And then continuing successfully to work towards changing the situation for others who had to face those same situations. She, through the Asia Disability Institute she set up. And Shoji, through the Human Care Association he founded.

Both promoted the Independent Living Movement (ILM). Shoji set up ILM through the Human Care Association. He took a leading role in it in his country, in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. Together, they harnessed the cooperation of many other fellow Japanese to change the situation of disabled people in their own country. And in other countries. And they continue to do so.

I had the good fortune to first meet Yukiko when she took up a post for three years at ESCAP, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. Her task was, broadly speaking, to stimulate interest in disability issues in member countries of ESCAP and to discuss with them what they could do about it. Numerous meetings and workshops were held in Bangkok towards achieving this purpose and I was sometimes invited to share experiences of CBR at these events. ESCAP comes within the UN Economic and Social Commission headquartered in New York.

An Unusual Experience

I will illustrate how intensive CBR workshops generally were with a personal experience. I was the rapporteur at a multi-country workshop held in Khon Khaen city in north-eastern Thailand in 1990. Yukiko and her boss were working on the report with me. We worked long hours to get daily reports done. Then we had to get the final report ready by Friday morning so the participants could approve it.

We worked all night Thursday. We had it ready and photocopied. But it gave us time only for a quick shower and an even quicker breakfast so we could get to the workshop in time. The workshop ended by 1 p.m. for lunch. By 3 p.m. I was on a local flight to Bangkok with a direct connection to an international flight back home to Colombo.

Quite soon after boarding the flight to Colombo, I started feeling somewhat groggy. I held on for as long as I could, but decided finally to call a stewardess. Before I knew it, I found myself waking up flat-out on the aisle with a circle of worried faces peering down at me. I had collapsed.

When the flight landed, I was brought down in a wheelchair in the cargo lift. To be taken directly to the Medical Centre at the airport. When I said I was a diabetic, the good doctor gave me a glassful of glucose, quite sickening to drink and quite unnecessary I thought. I told her the reason for my collapse was fatigue. I was still unfit to walk, so the stewardess wheeled me out. Nalin was waiting to collect me. He nearly collapsed himself when he saw me being pushed out in a wheelchair.

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Features

Crucial test for religious and ethnic harmony in Bangladesh

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

A political protest that led to governmental change in Bangladesh mid last year. (photograph: imago)

Will the Bangladesh parliamentary election bring into being a government that will ensure ethnic and religious harmony in the country? This is the poser on the lips of peace-loving sections in Bangladesh and a principal concern of those outside who mean the country well.

The apprehensions are mainly on the part of religious and ethnic minorities. The parliamentary poll of February 12th is expected to bring into existence a government headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist oriented Jamaat-e-Islami party and this is where the rub is. If these parties win, will it be a case of Bangladesh sliding in the direction of a theocracy or a state where majoritarian chauvinism thrives?

Chief of the Jamaat, Shafiqur Rahman, who was interviewed by sections of the international media recently said that there is no need for minority groups in Bangladesh to have the above fears. He assured, essentially, that the state that will come into being will be equable and inclusive. May it be so, is likely to be the wish of those who cherish a tension-free Bangladesh.

The party that could have posed a challenge to the above parties, the Awami League Party of former Prime Minister Hasina Wased, is out of the running on account of a suspension that was imposed on it by the authorities and the mentioned majoritarian-oriented parties are expected to have it easy at the polls.

A positive that has emerged against the backdrop of the poll is that most ordinary people in Bangladesh, be they Muslim or Hindu, are for communal and religious harmony and it is hoped that this sentiment will strongly prevail, going ahead. Interestingly, most of them were of the view, when interviewed, that it was the politicians who sowed the seeds of discord in the country and this viewpoint is widely shared by publics all over the region in respect of the politicians of their countries.

Some sections of the Jamaat party were of the view that matters with regard to the orientation of governance are best left to the incoming parliament to decide on but such opinions will be cold comfort for minority groups. If the parliamentary majority comes to consist of hard line Islamists, for instance, there is nothing to prevent the country from going in for theocratic governance. Consequently, minority group fears over their safety and protection cannot be prevented from spreading.

Therefore, we come back to the question of just and fair governance and whether Bangladesh’s future rulers could ensure these essential conditions of democratic rule. The latter, it is hoped, will be sufficiently perceptive to ascertain that a Bangladesh rife with religious and ethnic tensions, and therefore unstable, would not be in the interests of Bangladesh and those of the region’s countries.

Unfortunately, politicians region-wide fall for the lure of ethnic, religious and linguistic chauvinism. This happens even in the case of politicians who claim to be democratic in orientation. This fate even befell Bangladesh’s Awami League Party, which claims to be democratic and socialist in general outlook.

We have it on the authority of Taslima Nasrin in her ground-breaking novel, ‘Lajja’, that the Awami Party was not of any substantial help to Bangladesh’s Hindus, for example, when violence was unleashed on them by sections of the majority community. In fact some elements in the Awami Party were found to be siding with the Hindus’ murderous persecutors. Such are the temptations of hard line majoritarianism.

In Sri Lanka’s past numerous have been the occasions when even self-professed Leftists and their parties have conveniently fallen in line with Southern nationalist groups with self-interest in mind. The present NPP government in Sri Lanka has been waxing lyrical about fostering national reconciliation and harmony but it is yet to prove its worthiness on this score in practice. The NPP government remains untested material.

As a first step towards national reconciliation it is hoped that Sri Lanka’s present rulers would learn the Tamil language and address the people of the North and East of the country in Tamil and not Sinhala, which most Tamil-speaking people do not understand. We earnestly await official language reforms which afford to Tamil the dignity it deserves.

An acid test awaits Bangladesh as well on the nation-building front. Not only must all forms of chauvinism be shunned by the incoming rulers but a secular, truly democratic Bangladesh awaits being licked into shape. All identity barriers among people need to be abolished and it is this process that is referred to as nation-building.

On the foreign policy frontier, a task of foremost importance for Bangladesh is the need to build bridges of amity with India. If pragmatism is to rule the roost in foreign policy formulation, Bangladesh would place priority to the overcoming of this challenge. The repatriation to Bangladesh of ex-Prime Minister Hasina could emerge as a steep hurdle to bilateral accord but sagacious diplomacy must be used by Bangladesh to get over the problem.

A reply to N.A. de S. Amaratunga

A response has been penned by N.A. de S. Amaratunga (please see p5 of ‘The Island’ of February 6th) to a previous column by me on ‘ India shaping-up as a Swing State’, published in this newspaper on January 29th , but I remain firmly convinced that India remains a foremost democracy and a Swing State in the making.

If the countries of South Asia are to effectively manage ‘murderous terrorism’, particularly of the separatist kind, then they would do well to adopt to the best of their ability a system of government that provides for power decentralization from the centre to the provinces or periphery, as the case may be. This system has stood India in good stead and ought to prove effective in all other states that have fears of disintegration.

Moreover, power decentralization ensures that all communities within a country enjoy some self-governing rights within an overall unitary governance framework. Such power-sharing is a hallmark of democratic governance.

Features

Celebrating Valentine’s Day …

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, romance, and affection, and this is how some of our well-known personalities plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day – 14th February:

Merlina Fernando (Singer)

Yes, it’s a special day for lovers all over the world and it’s even more special to me because 14th February is the birthday of my husband Suresh, who’s the lead guitarist of my band Mission.

We have planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his Birthday together and it will be a wonderful night as always.

We will be having our fans and close friends, on that night, with their loved ones at Highso – City Max hotel Dubai, from 9.00 pm onwards.

Lorensz Francke (Elvis Tribute Artiste)

On Valentine’s Day I will be performing a live concert at a Wealthy Senior Home for Men and Women, and their families will be attending, as well.

I will be performing live with romantic, iconic love songs and my song list would include ‘Can’t Help falling in Love’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Burning Love’, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, ‘The Wonder of You’ and ‘’It’s Now or Never’ to name a few.

To make Valentine’s Day extra special I will give the Home folks red satin scarfs.

Emma Shanaya (Singer)

I plan on spending the day of love with my girls, especially my best friend. I don’t have a romantic Valentine this year but I am thrilled to spend it with the girl that loves me through and through. I’ll be in Colombo and look forward to go to a cute cafe and spend some quality time with my childhood best friend Zulha.

JAYASRI

Emma-and-Maneeka

This Valentine’s Day the band JAYASRI we will be really busy; in the morning we will be landing in Sri Lanka, after our Oman Tour; then in the afternoon we are invited as Chief Guests at our Maris Stella College Sports Meet, Negombo, and late night we will be with LineOne band live in Karandeniya Open Air Down South. Everywhere we will be sharing LOVE with the mass crowds.

Kay Jay (Singer)

I will stay at home and cook a lovely meal for lunch, watch some movies, together with Sanjaya, and, maybe we go out for dinner and have a lovely time. Come to think of it, every day is Valentine’s Day for me with Sanjaya Alles.

Maneka Liyanage (Beauty Tips)

On this special day, I celebrate love by spending meaningful time with the people I cherish. I prepare food with love and share meals together, because food made with love brings hearts closer. I enjoy my leisure time with them — talking, laughing, sharing stories, understanding each other, and creating beautiful memories. My wish for this Valentine’s Day is a world without fighting — a world where we love one another like our own beloved, where we do not hurt others, even through a single word or action. Let us choose kindness, patience, and understanding in everything we do.

Janaka Palapathwala (Singer)

Janaka

Valentine’s Day should not be the only day we speak about love.

From the moment we are born into this world, we seek love, first through the very drop of our mother’s milk, then through the boundless care of our Mother and Father, and the embrace of family.

Love is everywhere. All living beings, even plants, respond in affection when they are loved.

As we grow, we learn to love, and to be loved. One day, that love inspires us to build a new family of our own.

Love has no beginning and no end. It flows through every stage of life, timeless, endless, and eternal.

Natasha Rathnayake (Singer)

We don’t have any special plans for Valentine’s Day. When you’ve been in love with the same person for over 25 years, you realise that love isn’t a performance reserved for one calendar date. My husband and I have never been big on public displays, or grand gestures, on 14th February. Our love is expressed quietly and consistently, in ordinary, uncelebrated moments.

With time, you learn that love isn’t about proving anything to the world or buying into a commercialised idea of romance—flowers that wilt, sweets that spike blood sugar, and gifts that impress briefly but add little real value. In today’s society, marketing often pushes the idea that love is proven by how much money you spend, and that buying things is treated as a sign of commitment.

Real love doesn’t need reminders or price tags. It lives in showing up every day, choosing each other on unromantic days, and nurturing the relationship intentionally and without an audience.

This isn’t a judgment on those who enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s simply a personal choice.

Melloney Dassanayake (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024)

I truly believe it’s beautiful to have a day specially dedicated to love. But, for me, Valentine’s Day goes far beyond romantic love alone. It celebrates every form of love we hold close to our hearts: the love for family, friends, and that one special person who makes life brighter. While 14th February gives us a moment to pause and celebrate, I always remind myself that love should never be limited to just one day. Every single day should feel like Valentine’s Day – constant reminder to the people we love that they are never alone, that they are valued, and that they matter.

I’m incredibly blessed because, for me, every day feels like Valentine’s Day. My special person makes sure of that through the smallest gestures, the quiet moments, and the simple reminders that love lives in the details. He shows me that it’s the little things that count, and that love doesn’t need grand stages to feel extraordinary. This Valentine’s Day, perfection would be something intimate and meaningful: a cozy picnic in our home garden, surrounded by nature, laughter, and warmth, followed by an abstract drawing session where we let our creativity flow freely. To me, that’s what love is – simple, soulful, expressive, and deeply personal. When love is real, every ordinary moment becomes magical.

Noshin De Silva (Actress)

Valentine’s Day is one of my favourite holidays! I love the décor, the hearts everywhere, the pinks and reds, heart-shaped chocolates, and roses all around. But honestly, I believe every day can be Valentine’s Day.

It doesn’t have to be just about romantic love. It’s a chance to celebrate love in all its forms with friends, family, or even by taking a little time for yourself.

Whether you’re spending the day with someone special or enjoying your own company, it’s a reminder to appreciate meaningful connections, show kindness, and lead with love every day.

And yes, I’m fully on theme this year with heart nail art and heart mehendi design!

Wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day, but, remember, love yourself first, and don’t forget to treat yourself.

Sending my love to all of you.

Features

Banana and Aloe Vera

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

To create a powerful, natural, and hydrating beauty mask that soothes inflammation, fights acne, and boosts skin radiance, mix a mashed banana with fresh aloe vera gel.

This nutrient-rich blend acts as an antioxidant-packed anti-ageing treatment that also doubles as a nourishing, shiny hair mask.

* Face Masks for Glowing Skin:

Mix 01 ripe banana with 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel and apply this mixture to the face. Massage for a few minutes, leave for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off for a glowing complexion.

* Acne and Soothing Mask:

Mix 01 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel with 1/2 a mashed banana and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture to clean skin to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and hydrate dry, sensitive skin. Leave for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with warm water.

* Hair Treatment for Shine:

Mix 01 fresh ripe banana with 03 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 teaspoon of honey. Apply from scalp to ends, massage for 10-15 minutes and then let it dry for maximum absorption. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for soft, shiny, and frizz-free hair.