The International Wheelchair Day Celebration, which falls on March 1st (01) every year, was held this morning (01) under my patronage at the Ragama Hematology and Rehabilitation Hospital premises.
The late Steve Wilkinson, a British national and passionate advocate, initiated International Wheelchair Day in 2008 to highlight the importance of wheelchairs in enabling mobility, independence, dignity and integration for millions of people around the world.

The theme this year is "Empowering Mobility - Building an Inclusive Future for All". At the celebration held at the Ragama Hematology and Rehabilitation Hospital premises, several wheelchairs donated by the Sakura Institute of Japan were symbolically presented to persons with disabilities. The site of the wheelchair manufacturing and repair center, which is proposed to be started with a provision of Rs. 250 million allocated in the 2026 budget, was inspected and an observation tour of the hospital premises was also conducted.

I emphasized that the current government is properly fulfilling the responsibility assumed in the policy statement "A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life" to build a society that is inclusive and inclusive, and that it has also identified the development of infrastructure to ensure the right of access for people with disabilities as a priority task and has planned to develop access facilities and related infrastructure for people with disabilities.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Krishantha Abeysena, Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Wasantha Piyatissa, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Nishantha Jayaweera, Gampaha District Member of Parliament, Stephanie Fernando, Member of Parliament, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, public representatives, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Sampath Mantrinayake, Additional Secretaries, Deputy Director of the Ragama Hematology and Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. Chandragupta Ranasinghe, persons with disabilities, hospital staff and a large group.