Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Welcome Sri Lanka’s Legislative and Policy Frameworks and Institutions Advancing Disability Rights, Ask about Monitoring of Residential Care Centres and the Prevalence of Sign Language

14 أغسطس 2026 Meeting Summaries

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the initial report of Sri Lanka on efforts made to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Committee Experts welcomed the State’s establishment of legislative and policy frameworks and institutions to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, while raising questions about reports of a lack of oversight of residential care centres and the prevalence of sign language.

Hiroshi Tamon, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee paid tribute to Sri Lanka for its presidency of the eighteenth and nineteenth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention. Further, the Committee welcomed the establishment by Sri Lanka of legislative and policy frameworks and institutions to advance the rights of persons with disabilities.

Gerel Dondovdorj, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said a fire had occurred in June this year at a residential care centre, with at least one of the victims found chained, with approximately 62 of 70 residents having intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Only one-third of residential care centres were registered and monitored by the State, while the others operated privately. Why had two-thirds of these centres been able to operate out of State assessment? What kind of monitoring mechanisms existed in the country to ensure serious incidents did not occur in these centres?

Inmaculada Placencia-Porrero, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote sign language, including that the State had ten sign language interpreters. What practical measures were in place to guarantee those rights? What steps were being taken to have Sri Lankan and Tamil sign language recognised as official languages? How was the right to obtain accessible information guaranteed? Would the sign language bill, which was currently a draft, be adopted?

Introducing the report, Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment and head of the delegation, said Sri Lanka was undertaking significant legislative, policy and institutional reforms. These included drafting a new bill on protection of the rights of persons with disabilities aligned with the Convention; developing proposed legislation on sign language; implementing the Marrakesh Treaty; reviewing accessibility regulations; and updating the national disability policy and action plan.

The delegation said the Government had taken measures to strengthen the accessibility of public communication, including by providing sign language at public institutions such as courts, police stations and universities, among others. Sign language training programmes had been conducted for Government officials. Training was also being provided to emergency response services, to help those with hearing impairments. Election results were distributed in sign language and a sign language lexicon had been developed to ensure consistency. Sri Lankan and Tamil languages were recognised as official languages under the proposed sign language bill, which was nearly finalised.

In closing remarks, Mr. Pannilage thanked the Committee members for their constructive engagement during the review. The Government of Sri Lanka remained committed to the promotion and protection of human rights of all Sri Lankans and would continue engagement with the Committee.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Dondovdorj, thanked Sri Lanka for the open and constructive dialogue. The Committee wished Sri Lanka success in its future efforts in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

The delegation of Sri Lanka was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism; the Attorney General’s Department; the Ministry of Justice and National Integration; the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education; the Ministry of Health and Mass Media; the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs; the Ministry of Labour; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development; the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Youth; the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Council and Local Government; the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply; the Department of Police; the Election Commission of Sri Lanka; the Department of Prisons; the Department of Census and Statistics; the Department of Manpower and Employment; the Disaster Management Centre; the Urban Development Authority; the National Institute of Mental Health; the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities; the Department of Immigration and Emigration; the Sri Lanka National Mine Action Centre; the Department of Social Services; the Department of Probation and Child Care Service; the National Child Protection Authority; the National Intellectual Property Office; and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-fourth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3. p.m. on Monday, 17 August to consider the combined second and third periodic report of Lithuania (CRPD/C/LTU/2-3).

Report

The Committee has before it the initial report of Sri Lanka (CRPD/C/LKA/1).

Presentation of Report

UPALI PANNILAGE, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment and head of the delegation, said Sri Lanka had ratified the Convention in 2016 and remained committed to aligning its legislation, policies, programmes and institutions with its obligations under the Convention. Since 2019, the State had faced significant challenges, including the Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, the unprecedented socio-economic crisis of 2022, and the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah in 2025. Despite these difficulties, the country remained committed to democratic governance and to protecting the rights and well-being of all persons, including persons with disabilities.

Following the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Government placed a strong emphasis on inclusion and equality. The 2024 Parliament was among the most inclusive in Sri Lanka’s history, with increased representation of women and different communities. The nomination of Sugath Wasantha de Silva as the first person with a disability to enter Parliament marked an important step towards ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making. In March 2025, the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities was established under his chairmanship. The Caucus had since worked with Government ministries, disability organizations, education authorities, development partners and the United Nations system on priorities including inclusive education, employment, accessibility, social protection and new disability rights legislation.

The Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, together with the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Social Services, continued to provide livelihood, housing, education, medical, financial and vocational assistance, as well as assistive devices, to persons with disabilities, particularly those who were vulnerable. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities provided guidance and coordination, while ministries responsible for health, education, labour, transport and other sectors implemented disability-inclusive programmes.

Sri Lanka was undertaking significant legislative, policy and institutional reforms. These included drafting a new bill on protection of the rights of persons with disabilities aligned with the Convention; developing proposed legislation on sign language; implementing the Marrakesh Treaty; reviewing accessibility regulations; developing disability-disaggregated data; updating the national disability policy and action plan; strengthening community-based rehabilitation; and improving accessible public transport. Consideration was also being given to establishing an Independent Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Following the first national participatory budget consultations with persons with disabilities in May 2026, the Parliamentary Caucus developed 234 budget proposals and six key policy recommendations for the 2027 national budget, significantly increasing the disability-inclusive budget, with efforts underway to increase allocations further. Sri Lanka was also expanding community-based care and rehabilitation, skills development and care centres, and residential facilities for persons with intellectual impairments. A national accessibility audit, conducted with the participation of persons with disabilities, was assessing accessibility of national infrastructure and public facilities. Budgetary allocations had also been made for 104 low-floor buses equipped to better serve persons with disabilities, alongside sign-language training for drivers and awareness and sensitivity programmes.

Sri Lanka recognised that significant challenges remained, particularly in education, employment, accessibility, independent living, community-based rehabilitation, social care, disaster preparedness and disability-inclusive social protection. The Government remained committed to stronger coordination with provincial councils, local authorities, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, development partners and the United Nations. Preparations were also underway to collect comprehensive national data to support evidence-based policymaking. Sri Lanka’s election as Chair of the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention, in 2025 and 2026 respectively, reflected international recognition of its commitment to the Convention and to international cooperation on disability rights. Concluding, Mr. Pannilage said Sri Lanka reaffirmed its determination to move from policy to implementation, from access to participation, and from inclusion in principle to inclusion in daily life.

Statement by National Human Rights Institution

GEHAN GUNATHILAKE, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, said the Commission, as the country’s independent national human rights institution, monitored implementation of the Convention. While it acknowledged positive Government initiatives in funding, transport, awareness, education and health, implementation remained slow and fragmented. The Commission’s key concerns included the absence of comprehensive legislation implementing the Convention despite Sri Lanka’s ratification in 2016, weak coordination across the government, and inadequate implementation of disability policies at grassroots level. Persons with disabilities continued to face discrimination and barriers to education, employment, healthcare, transport, public services and justice, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

Accessibility also remained a major challenge, despite existing laws and court decisions. The Commission called for stronger enforcement, accessible transport and digital services, and greater participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making. It also highlighted the needs of women and children with disabilities, inadequate accessibility during disasters, and significant gaps in disability data. Finally, it recommended establishing an independent monitoring mechanism that complied with the Convention and the Paris Principles.

Questions by a Committee Expert

HIROSHI TAMON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee members were mindful of the complex socio-economic challenges Sri Lanka had faced in recent years, which presented unique challenges in respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights, particularly for persons with disabilities.

The Committee paid tribute to Sri Lanka for its presidency of the eighteenth and nineteenth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention. Furthermore, the Committee welcomed the establishment by Sri Lanka of legislative and policy frameworks and institutions to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, including the national social protection policy (2024); the Women Empowerment Act 37 (2024); the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability Inclusion (2023); the amendment to the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act 10 (2023); the Disability Unit of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (2022); the Intellectual Property (Amendment) Act 8 (2021); and the national action plan for the protection and promotion of human rights (2017–2021). The Committee would inquire into the effectiveness of measure taken to implement these frameworks and to align domestic legislation with the Convention.

What measures had been taken to expedite the new protection of the persons with disabilities bill? How did the new bill explicitly prohibit the denial of reasonable accommodations? The Committee had been informed that consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities remained ad-hoc; how would the State ensure structured and consistent consultations with disability organisations? Were there any plans to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention?

What measures were being taken to ensure an effective mechanism for disability-related complaints? The Committee had received information that persons with disabilities in the north-east faced intersectional discrimination and were being treated as security threats; how was the Committee addressing this issue? There were also reports of discrimination in the banking industry, where persons with visual disabilities were not permitted to open accounts. What was the State doing in this regard?

Patriarchal attitudes often prevented women and girls with disabilities from participating in public life and accessing education, employment and health services, among others. What measures had been taken to address these barriers? Former female combatants with disabilities and women-headed households often experienced social exclusion and marginalisation in conflict-affected areas. What had been done to address this? What measure would the State take to ensure the inclusion of women with disabilities in national gender equality decision-making bodies? What measure were being taken to ensure access to reproductive health care centres and protection shelters for persons with disabilities? What measures were taken to ensure that victims and survivors had safe and accessible reporting channels?

Children with disabilities in conflict-affected areas often faced additional barriers resulting from displacement, poverty and trauma; what measures were being taken to remove these barriers in those regions? Was the State planning to provide sign language and Easy Read support in child protection case proceedings? The Committee had been informed that media portrayals of persons with disabilities often reinforced stigma; what was been done to systematically promote positive reframing of disability through national awareness strategies?

Did the Government intend to review accessibility regulations and set a more reasonable time-bound deadline for implementing the regulations than the current eighty years? What enforcement mechanisms were planned for public and private entities that failed to comply with disability regulations? The Committee had received information that military checkpoints in the northeast created barriers for persons with psychosocial disabilities. What measures had been taken to provide reasonable accommodations?

How did Sri Lanka plan to address the issue of some persons with disabilities being excluded from the 2024 census? What measures were planned to guarantee the active participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in data monitoring? What steps would the State party take to ensure the structured participation of these organisations in bilateral and multilateral assistance programmes? What measures were planned to establish a formal coordination mechanism extending across national, provincial and local levels?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Sri Lanka remained committed to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Drafting the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act took longer than expected, but since ratification, consultations had been conducted with persons with disabilities and civil society organisations. Sri Lanka was committed to finalising the draft with the involvement of relevant stakeholders. The rights and principles enshrined in the Convention were reflected in Sri Lanka’s Constitution, as well as the Persons with Disabilities Act. Any new legislation needed to be aligned with the Constitution, as well as the provisions of the Convention. Steps had not been taken to ratify the Optional Protocol at this stage.

Complaints could be made online or via the phone to the National Human Rights Commission; it was a simple and straightforward process. The Women’s Commission had powers to intervene in ongoing matters and initiate matters on their own. The Legal Aid Commission had a special division to process complaints made by persons with disabilities.

A women, peace and security plan had been developed with provisions specifically for women with disabilities, including sign language services and measures for recruiting these women to Government offices and ensuring they equally participated in decision-making processes. The Government was sponsoring shelters for victims of domestic violence, with a specific shelter for women with disabilities. Women could submit complaints through one of two helplines or via email.

It was of paramount importance to consider the best interest of the child when making decisions. Sri Lanka had a five-year national policy on child protection (2025-2029), including for children with disabilities. Sign language interpreters were being recruited to provide increased services. The Government had adopted multi-sectoral approaches to promote disability awareness through the media and public awareness programmes. The Ministry of Health had integrated disability awareness into the public health programme and was providing accessible health information. Public initiatives, including national media competitions and awareness programmes for media, had been implemented to change public attitudes towards disabilities.

The Government was currently designing new accessibility regulations and had launched an audit across public institutions to identify areas which required improvement. For the first time in history, the Government had allocated sufficient funding to meet those regulations. Accessibility audits had already been conducted for several public institutions and buildings, and it was ensured that newly constructed buildings complied with new accessibility standards.

Under the Persons with Disabilities Act, the high court had been given the power to issue decisions on cases related to disability rights that were just and equitable in nature. This jurisdiction of the high court showed the importance placed on disability rights in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka followed the Washington Group recommendations to collect data on disability and the 2024 census reported more than 720,000 persons with disabilities. The State was working on the collection of specific, disaggregated data on persons with disabilities; a model had been developed and the data was expected to be collected in the future.

The new draft bill on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities sought a strengthened framework for monitoring of the Convention. The proposed independent commission was intended to monitor laws and policies under the Convention, therefore strengthening accountability and oversight.

Questions by Committee Experts

INMACULADA PLACENCIA-PORRERO, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if the State party could clarify whether there were obligations to comply with accessibility standards, and whether these were in line with recognised international standards? Did persons with disabilities have access to judicial remedies in cases of non-compliance?

A Committee Expert asked about mechanisms that could be put in place to ensure the relevant provisions reached women and girls with disabilities, enabling them to have the same opportunities as others. To what extent had women benefitted from the removal of the legal aid threshold? How was access to information being ensured for women with disabilities?

Another Expert asked how the denial of reasonable accommodation would be incorporated into the definition of discrimination?

An Expert asked about steps being taken to reduce malnutrition in children with disabilities.

A Committee Expert asked who was entrusted with the coordination of State institutions working on disability matters? What level of investment was there for persons with disabilities? Was disability included in a cross-cutting way throughout Sri Lanka’s international cooperation activities?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said there had been specific cases in which the court had handed down penalties for non-compliance with accessibility standards. The gender equality and women empowerment policy had provisions for the empower of women with disabilities. Financial technical assistance was provided to reach women in the community with disabilities. A programme had been initiated where a certain amount of money was provided to expectant and lactating mothers, and free meals were provided to preschools.

The Government had allocated a budget for 10 low floor buses with special accessibility feature for persons with disabilities, which had been deployed earlier this year. Last year, all line ministries were directed to allocate a specific disability-inclusive budget within their own budgets. This included the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Water Supplies, and municipal governments, among others. Many states were now preparing their budgets for disability inclusion.

The employment support for persons with disabilities project had strengthened employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and the Asian Development Bank had also support economic and empowerment programmes for these people.

Sri Lanka was striving to improve on existing legislation, acknowledging that disability was an evolving concept, requiring laws to continue to evolve with it. The new disability act would include provisions for reasonable accommodation to ensure full participation in social life. The new bill was a work in progress and had gone back and forth with multiple stakeholders, including persons with disabilities. Once the policy was finalised, it needed to go through the Constitutional process to be translated into law.

Questions by a Committee Expert

GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said a fire had occurred in June this year at a residential care centre, with at least one of the victims found chained, with approximately 62 of 70 residents having intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Only one-third of residential care centres were registered and monitored by the State, while the others operated privately. Why had two-thirds of these centres been able to operate out of State assessment? What kind of monitoring mechanisms existed in the country to ensure serious incidents did not occur in these centres? The suicide rate in Sri Lanka was quite high; what kind of mechanisms existed to monitor these incidents?

The Committee acknowledged the National Disaster Plan 2023-2030 contained specific provisions on persons with disabilities. However, the 2025 flood demonstrated that the response for these people remained inadequate. Did the State party have a concrete plan to review national policies and legislation addressing disaster risk reduction to ensure they were fully responsive to disability needs? Information had been received that the State’s emergency telephone numbers were not fully accessible for persons with disabilities; how was it ensured that early warning systems were fully accessible for persons with disabilities? How could deaf-blind people receive warning information based on their needs? Were there plans to include persons with disabilities in disaster preparedness committees across all levels?

Was there a plan to review existing legislation to abolish all existing provisions which restricted the legal capacity of persons with disabilities? What were the State’s plans to implement supported decision making? Were there specific training programmes targeting access to justice for persons with disabilities? What was the timeline for the plans to review and revise existing legislation which did not comply with the Convention?

To what extent did Sri Lankan legislation provide protection to persons with disabilities on issues such as forced sterilisation? To what extent was their free, prior and informed consent protected?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a fire, caused by electrical short circuiting, had occurred at a residential centre in June this year, causing the deaths of 14 residents and numerous injuries to others. The facility was being operated without legal registrations despite repeated warnings from the authorities. Although designed to accommodate 15 residents, it housed 69 individuals, including 61 individuals with disabilities, despite being depicted as a home for the elderly. The Government took immediate actions to protect residents, including relocating residents to other centres or with their families. Medical and psychological services were also provided. The Government was taking steps to prevent these incidents, including establishing day centres for persons with disabilities and developing legal and regulatory standards for residential care institutions. These institutions were an evolving subject, and efforts were underway to establish unified standards for care nationwide and stronger oversight, regular inspections and improved fire safety.

Any officer would face discriminatory action if it was determined that their negligence resulted in the death of someone in custody. Families of the deceased could file a case in the Supreme Court.

Sri Lanka recognised the importance of ensuring the safety of persons with disabilities in disasters and emergencies. Disability inclusion was reflected in the national disaster management plan 2023–2030, which recognised persons with disabilities as a priority group requiring targeted support. Key measures included strengthening disability-inclusive early warning systems and communication mechanisms, emergency shelter arrangement and accessibility for shelters. Training and awareness raising programmes were conducted for officials and other stakeholders, outlining the appropriate response for persons with disabilities during disasters and emergencies.

The State party recognised that some of the laws from the colonial era would need to be brought in line with more Convention-compliant definitions. Administrative remedies including circulars were also available regarding supported decision making.

The women empowerment act of 2024 introduced mechanisms to give effect to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and to instigate legal action on behalf of women.

The Department of Social Services had strengthened employment support, with more than 800 persons with disabilities securing employment through these initiatives.

The Government recognised the importance of strengthening the legal framework governing mental health, ensuring the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. Steps had been taken towards the enactment of new legislation, and a draft mental health act was published on the official website of the Ministry of Health.

Persons with psychosocial conditions could be transferred to designated hospitals to receive appropriate care and treatment.

Questions by a Committee Expert

GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked what measures had been taken to eliminate the use of physical and chemical restraints in all residential care settings? What mechanism was in place to monitor and investigate these practices to ensure they did not occur in the future? What was being done to establish a legal complaints mechanism fully accessible for persons with disabilities?

How did the State party establish a comprehensive support scheme to ensure persons with disabilities were included in the community? Did it have a concrete plan on deinstitutionalisation?

How many shelters existed in Sri Lanka and to what extent were they accessible for persons with disabilities? To what extent were awareness raising programmes conducted for persons with disabilities?

What was Sri Lanka’s plan for providing persons with disabilities with quality mobility equipment and assistive devices to ensure their independent living? How did the State ensure experts were trained to help persons with disabilities, including in repairing mobility equipment and assistive devices?

The Committee had received information that persons with disabilities faced barriers in accessing identity documents. Were there plans to ensure the removal of these barriers? How would the State remove barriers to ensure access to social services for persons with disabilities in conflict-affected areas was not limited?

Responses by the Delegation

Sri Lanka had a zero-tolerance policy on torture, as enshrined in the Constitution. Every magistrate was obliged to visit places of deprivation of liberty regularly and produce a report. Inmates could make complaints of torture and would receive medical care if necessary.

Sri Lanka pursued both social and economic empowerment to encourage independent living for persons with disabilities. Inclusive employment was encouraged in both public and private sectors. Currently, 50 per cent of wages were covered when a private sector enterprise employed a person with a disability. Vocational training was conducted to encourage persons with disabilities to improve their skills. Sri Lanka remained committed to expanding opportunities for independent living and economic empowerment. Due to the social fabric of Sri Lankan society, most persons with disabilities obtained care through the family system. When families were not able to provide adequate care, institutions operated by the Government could provide care services for persons with disabilities.

There were ten shelters around the country, with one shelter specifically for women with disabilities. All shelters were funded by the Government. Shelters provided counselling and covered medical needs. Awareness programmes were being conducted on how people could access the system.

The State provided financial assistance for the purchase of assistive devices and mobility equipment, complemented by wheelchair donations. A new electric wheelchair service was recently established by the Ministry of Health, to provide repairs free of charge. The Visual Trust Fund aided persons with visual impairments, including by providing special lenses and material to enable students to finish their studies.

Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

Follow-up questions were asked about the mistreatment of children with disabilities; forced sterilisation; the protection of children with disabilities who were victims of violence and exploitation; the accessibility of shelters for female victims with disabilities; and whether the State would establish a strategy to raise funds to support victim assistance. One Expert asked how the State was ensuring the prohibition of corporal punishment.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Mental Health Act was drafted following direction from the Human Rights Commission. Sri Lanka was taking preventive and responsive activities in regard to preventing the mistreatment of children. Officers took a lead role in identifying vulnerable children, including those with disabilities and those with parents with disabilities, to ensure they were protected from violence, harm and exploitation.

All child abuse offences were indictable and were tried at the high court level. A lawyer from the Legal Aid Commission would provide support to child victims and all children’s needs would be met by the Government. A civil society organization ran a shelter specifically for women with disabilities. Other shelters also provided services for victims with disabilities, with their staff receiving training on this topic.

Three million Sri Lankan rupees had been allocated for assistance of victims of violence and exploitation. A survey would be conducted to determine needs.

Circulars were distributed in schools to ensure the prohibition of corporal punishment. There was also the option to complain to the National Police Commission regarding these kinds of cases.

Questions by Committee Experts

INMACULADA PLACENCIA-PORRERO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote sign language, including that the State had ten sign language interpreters. What practical measures were in place to guarantee those rights? What steps were being taken to have Sri Lankan and Tamil sign language recognised as official languages? How was the right to obtain accessible information guaranteed? Would the sign language bill, which was currently a draft, be adopted?

How were privacy rights guaranteed by law and how was data protected? What enforcement measures were in place and what sanctions were there for violations?

What was been done for children who were not engaged in education currently, particularly those in conflict-affected areas? What steps had been taken to ensure persons who were institutionalised could receive health services outside the institutions? Were there any measures of success rates for rehabilitation programmes, in terms of integrating people into the community?

How was the State ensuring protection in employment and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities? How were quotas in the workplace enforced and what happened when they were not respected? Were there any penalties imposed? Was there data on employment?

What had been done to guarantee accessibility in sports? What measures had the State put in place to increase the protection of accessible books, considering provisions provided by the Marrakesh Treaty?

Another Expert asked about legislation that allowed matrimonies to be cancelled on the grounds of a psychosocial disability; what was being done to do away with this and address this issue? Who were classified as persons who were “totally disabled”, as described by the State party?

A Committee Expert about the plans outlined in the report to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities; what was their status? What measures were being taken to ensure the eligibility requirement for public education did not exclude persons with disabilities?

Responses by the Delegation

The personal data act provided protection for personal data, preventing unauthorised access or disclosure of this data. Individuals had the right to seek remedy when their data was compromised.

People with psychosocial disabilities received support from their families, the State, and civil society organizations.

Teachers were being trained on providing reasonable accommodations. Sri Lanka had universal health coverage and aimed to provide health services across the country. Measures had been taken to improve physical accessibility and deliver communication more accessibly in relation to healthcare.

Rehabilitation guidelines were published by the Ministry of Health, and rehabilitation services were available. The State was in the process of improving and expanding these services. Rehabilitation had been identified as a priority area in the next ten-year health masterplan.

Persons with disabilities could access the same public employment services as all other job seekers, and they could access market-oriented training to overcome skill gaps. Employers were encouraged to provide reasonable accommodation, including accessible workplaces and flexible working environments.

A dedicated sanitation programme was introduced through the National Housing Development Authority in 2026 to support the construction of 500 accessible toilets for persons with disabilities. Monthly benefits were provided for low-income families in poverty to support their living expenses. Additional benefits were provided to students to enable them to continue their education. The Government was implementing a range of welfare programmes to support people living with disabilities.

Sri Lanka had implemented the Marrakesh Treaty through the Intellectual Property Act. An exact figure of books printed could be provided at a later date. Awareness raising was conducted on the Marrakesh Treaty to enhance understanding among publishers, librarians and those serving persons with visual impairments around the application of the Treaty and the opportunities it provided in accessing published works.

Follow-up Questions by Committee Experts

Committee Experts asked follow-up questions, including about the appointment of women with disabilities to the National Disability Commission; opportunities for education and employment for deaf-blind persons; the number of persons with disabilities employed in the Government; if there were persons with disabilities in political positions; how the loss of funds and resources within disability services had been felt; what strategies Sri Lanka had taken to bolster other development agreements; specific measures to track students with disabilities at the tertiary level, to provide them with reasonable accommodations; what was being done to expand Government support for persons with disabilities participating in politics; the timeframe for the dictionary on Sri Lankan sign language; how many peoples with disabilities visited Sri Lanka; and if Sri Lankans with disabilities were involved in the tourism industry and if they could participate in recreational life.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said any person with a disability could apply to be a Commissioner at the National Disability Commission, including women. The State conducted entrepreneurship training programmes for persons with disabilities aiming to be self-employed. There were currently no quotas for persons with disabilities in politics, however there was currently one person with a disability already in Parliament. A draft bill was being introduced which would immensely increase the political participation of persons with disabilities.

A planned landmark reform would significantly encourage persons with disabilities to pursue higher education, enhance future employment prospects, and build a more equitable higher education system across the country. A programme had commenced to count the number of students with disabilities, with the intention of providing them with reasonable accommodations. Accessibility was ensured across all Government websites, and the Government was continuing to strengthen technical accessibility standards.

Sri Lanka established the first school for the blind in 1912 and had progressed well in the field of supporting blind students. The highest academic level achieved by a blind student was beyond master’s level.

The withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development had had a negative impact on Sri Lanka as a developing country as well as on persons with disabilities. Sri Lanka had received recent support from the Australian Government and other partners to conduct its disability audit.

Concluding Statements

UPALI PANNILAGE, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment and head of the delegation, said that since the submission of Sri Lanka’s initial report, significant developments had taken place in the State’s efforts to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Pannilage thanked the Committee members for their constructive engagement during the review, the civil society organizations who worked closely on disability issues, the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and all those who made the session possible. The Government of Sri Lanka remained committed to the promotion and protection of human rights of all Sri Lankans and would continue engagement with the Committee.

GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, thanked Sri Lanka for the open and constructive dialogue. The Committee recognised Sri Lanka had made progress since ratifying the Convention, including developments in policies and legislation which advanced the rights of persons with disabilities. At the same time the Committee was concerned that gaps in implementation, inadequate resources, and a lack of knowledge of the Convention could hamper this progress. Sri Lanka needed to apply a holistic, human rights-centred approach using the human rights model of disability. Meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes was essential. The Committee wished Sri Lanka success in its future efforts in ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

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Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Welcome Sri Lanka’s Legislative and Policy Frameworks and Institutions Advancing Disability Rights, Ask about Monitoring of Residential Care Centres and the Prevalence of Sign Language