7th of January, 2012 at the Colombo University Library Auditorium from 2.30 p.m.- 5.30 p.m. 

The aim of this forum is to sensitise University of Colombo administrators, staff and students about disability issues while providing a platform for students with disabilities to voice their ideas and concerns. In addition, we hope to raise awareness about the Rights of disabled people in Sri Lanka and the socio- legal mechanisms in place to guarantee those Rights. We hope that this will be an opportunity for all participants to gain a better understanding of disability issues in general, especially in terms of the Sri Lankan context.

Chair: MR. V.T. THAMILMARAN, Head Department of Public & International law

2.35-3.05 p.m. 	 Key Note Speaker: Professor Fiona  Kumari Campbell, Associate Professor, Deputy Head of School, Griffith Law School, Griffith University, Australia, Topics: Socio- legal background of disability, disability rights law in Sri Lanka, Approach towards disability in Australian Universities (English), followed by a Sinhala translation summary.

3.10-3.20  p.m.   Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama , Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo  (English)

3.25-3.3.40 p.m.  Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera, Chief Executive – Idiriya (Secured Supreme Court Order on Accessibility). Topics: The Inherent Right to ‘Accessibility at Public Buildings’-- An indispensable National need (Sinhala)

4.05-4.15 p.m.	Ms. Manique Gunaratne, Secretary – Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped, Honoured Member – Advisory Board, International Solidarity Fund
Topics: Issues facing blind people in education and employment, accessible technology and tertiary education. (English)

4.20-4.45 p.m.	Student presentation highlighting the needs and concerns of students with  disabilities. (students names will be uploaded when available) : Student #1 (english), Student #2 (Sinhala)
4.45-5.15 p.m.	 Open Forum


University of Colombo/Faculty of Law Disability Rights Forum

Associate Professor Fiona Kumari Campbell
Deputy Head of School (Learning and Teaching Scholarship),Griffith Law School
Adjunct Professor in Disability Studies, Department of Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka

Fiona Kumari Campbell has had a long standing interest in the civil rights of people from marginal backgrounds and the consequences of discrimination and social oppression. She is a scholar of disability studies and legal theory and is noted for the breadth of her published cross-disciplinary research. Fiona Kumari has written on issues related to disability—philosophy, law, and technology as well as marginality (sexuality and race). After the successful publication of her book Contours of Ableism (Palgrave) in 2009 she is working on two books: The Unveiling of (Dis)ability: Essays on Silence, Voice & Imprints and Crippin’ the Law: Jurisprudential Narratives of Impairment & Reasonableness.

 From 2003 until the end of 2010 Fiona was the Convenor of the Australasia’s largest postgraduate disability studies program in the School of Human Services & Social Work at Griffith’s Logan campus. In 2011 she joined the Griffith Law School. Fiona has 16 years teaching experience in sociological & legal theory, human rights, diversity studies, Australian politics and disability studies not only at Griffith University but also at Victoria University and the Queensland University of Technology.

A disability activist, she has undertaken professional roles in the government and non-government sectors and provided regular advice to former Ministers of Community Services Senator Don Grimes & Dr Neil Blewitt and was integral to the establishment of attendant care in Australia.