Page 148 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

for all citizens and prohibits discrimination based on race, religion,

language, caste, sex, political opinion, and place of birth, but it does not
explicitly articulate non-discrimination in education on the ground of

disability (Government of Sri Lanka, 2015). Nonetheless, Sri Lanka

enforced the Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act No. 28 in
1996, laying the foundation for non-discrimination in education and

guaranteeing compulsory and free education for all through the Compulsory
Education Ordinance 1997 (Government of Sri Lanka, 1996). In pursuit of

greater disability inclusion, the 2003 National Policy on Disability for Sri

Lanka provides a comprehensive framework for persons with disabilities to
be included in all aspects of society. Inclusive education was explicitly

defined in the policy, demonstrating the country’s commitment to include
children with disabilities in general education through learner-centered

teaching approaches. (Ministry of Education, 2009).

However, those policies and procedures have not been implemented up to a

satisfactory level to meet the needs and aspirations of the Students with
Disabilities (SWDs) specially in the state universities in Sri Lanka.

Even though there are notable developments in policy formation and
establishments of legal frameworks in ensuring equality and inclusion in

primary and secondary education, there has been not any national policies
and mechanisms introduced in tertiary educational sector in Sri Lanka. A

policy to safeguard the rights of SWDs is yet to be created for the Higher

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