Having red my previous article “Sighted friends –This is for you”, a friend of mine, Ms. Ruwani De Silva had sent me the following article to express her feelings on few dialogs that were used in a teledrama.
The teledrama was telecasted under the named “Sanda” on ITN and it had been created on a story featuring a blind girl. I suppose, this article too will give you few more tips to understand blind persons and their feelings.

There are few secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humour everyday. You’ve got to have a dream and try make it come true. When you lose your dreams, you die in misery.

Don’t you think that above mentioned facts should be applicable or rather needed in visually impaired Persons lives? It is so cheerless when it comes to a Visually Impaired person living among Sri Lankan Society. When I say Sri Lankan Society it narrates here in my Country as well as overseas. I say this with experience. Because, Sri Lankans though they talk about hospitality, the glance towards specially Visually Impaired persons is the same horrid way..Where ever in this World they are

Together with Dushyantha, myself being in the same situation, agree with all what he has stretched down in his article and would like to add a little bit of my remarks. Through my own fatal experiences…

The Sinhalese teledrama named “Sanda” was a touching story among most. It was a silent misfortune generated through the character. Was dull, dim and blunt I should say but this story only decorated the beauty of the Visually Impaired character. There was no message nor admiration highlighted in any way based on the character related to the impairment. Well, if this particular impairment is to be decided on to be included in public views.. With all, me, my shout is to Composers to, please be sensible. Explanations to why I say this, is in short..

The scene which showed the Boy’s parents turned up at Girl’s residence, the Girl’s way about seen by the Mother of the Boy. If you are aware of this teledrama.. Dear reader.. Do you remember the words muttered by the Mother of the Boy? She was not aware of Girl’s Impairment until she came there and was so horrid to say those words. Unfortunately I have no exact words in English to describe what was said in Sinhalese.

As an Impaired person watching that scene.. My heart broke. The words gave the most cruel meaning which made me to think how unfortunate are we to be in this Society. The meaning in those words gives the impression of entire bad luck in a Visually Impaired person. That is not what call “manushyathwaya” in this hospitable Country. It would be much nicer if we were been sounded with esteem since we are with much capabilities that “Abled” are not paying attention.

What the world knows about us is that we are blind and cannot see. But what they do not know is that we _do_and _have_done everything we possibly can to overcome our disability for our independent survival.

Also in another scene this character supposed to be making the Boy understand of her condition in a very depressing way. She explains “my hands are not quick to do things because I’m blind”. Very wrong! You have already read the activities that Dushyantha is engaged in. Also Manique Gunaratne one of my best friends, is an incentive to this Country. She instructs Visually Impaired students having ICT classes Island wide. There are many and more not forgetting, the only Professor Weerakkody who left this Earth last month, was an ornament to the Visually Impaired Society.

It’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.

We seek for the light in darkness to cross many hindrances. Our aim is to walk the life hand in hand with a smile to reach the Brightside of existence. The negative feeling in the term of “Disability” of any nature is not a disaster. It is only an inconvenience. We look at it as a gift which keep us away from holding back and proudly say that we are “Differently Abled”.

Trouble arrives in measures. Although its stacked up real high until convinced that have no reason to try. But no matter what happens we never let nothing darken the way.

I tribute my best inspirational friends “Dushyantha” and Manique” who have made an exciting difference in this Country compared to “Abled Persons”.