Sign language translators to help public and private sectors
by Ananda Kannangara
The Public Administration Ministry will deploy sign language
translators in all public sector institutions from next year to assist
over 100,000 hearing impaired citizens, who call at the Ministry,
Department and Local Government offices for official purposes.
 A survey revealed that several hearing impaired citizens call at
public institutions daily for various official purposes and the
officials of these institutions face problems due to the lack of sign
language translators. As a result many hearing impaired persons are
asked to visit these institutions along with another person.
Public Administration Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne told the Sunday
Observer that appointing sign language translators to public and private
sector institutions is the need of the hour.
He said a large percentage of hearing impaired persons and those with
various disabilities are currently employed in public and private sector
institutions.
Following a request by the Social Services Department, public and
private sector institutions have decided to allocate three percent
employment to differently-abled persons in their institutions every
year.
Minister Seneviratne said that the Social Services Department will
train more sign language translators from now to fill vacancies next
year under the proposed scheme.
In addition to sign language translators, the Social Services
Department has also instructed all public and private sector offices to
provide facilities for differently-abled persons, especially those who
use wheelchairs to access their premises.
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