Next Dream, the government's program to employ people with disabilities, begins.

The online submission of applications for the registration of persons with disabilities and employer institutions under the Next Dream program for the employment of persons with disabilities, implemented by the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, and the media awareness campaign on the Next Dream program were held on the afternoon of May (22) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment under the patronage of the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Mr. Upali Pannila.

The application for registration of persons with disabilities and employer institutions under the Next Dream program for employing persons with disabilities, implemented by the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, is online. The program is based on the principle of equitable access and a barrier-free social life as stated in the "Prosperous Country, Beautiful Life" vision statement. Accordingly, Rs. 500 million has been allocated from the 2026 budget for the employment of persons with disabilities, which is a prominent program among the action programs. Accordingly, it has been planned to pay half of the salary of a person with disabilities for 24 months, subject to a maximum of Rs. 15,000 per month, to the employer institution that recruits a person with disabilities for work, said Mr. Upali Pannila, Minister of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.

He also pointed out that according to the data of the Department of Census and Statistics, there are about 721,000 people with serious disabilities in Sri Lanka and about 171,000 people from low-income families are provided with a monthly assistance of Rs. 10,000. He also mentioned that Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated from this year's budget to improve access facilities for government institutions such as police stations and hospitals to ensure the right of access of people with disabilities. The media awareness campaign on the Next Dream program was held on the afternoon of May (22) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment under the patronage of Mr. Upali Pannila, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.

Addressing the media, Member of Parliament Mr. Sugath Wasantha de Silva stated that people with disabilities should also have the right to break free from the dependency mentality and live as proud citizens. He said that the Next Dream program implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment will help in this regard.

The event was attended by Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Mr. Upali Pannila, Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Mr.Sampath Manthrinayake, Additional Secretary Mrs. Nalika Piyasena, Additional Secretary Mr. Gamini Wijesinghe, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Mr. Susantha Jayathilaka, Director of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities Mrs. Jayamali Wickramarachchi, Director of the Department of Social Services Mrs. Darshani Karunaratne, heads of employer institutions, government officials and a group of others.