Mission to Sri Lanka/the Maldives
APCD undertook a mission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 17 to 24 August 2005 in order to collaborate with the Government Focal Points, the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Social Welfare in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Higher Education, Empowerment and Social Security in the Maldives. 
The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Social Welfare, organized a one day meeting for the APCD team to meet with more than 20 disabled persons organizations. The Minister of Women Employment and Social Welfare, Hon. Madam Sumedha G. Jayasena who opened the meeting stated the policy of the Sri Lankan Government on protection and empowerment of persons with disabilities has resulted in many services including the CBR movement. Dr. Padmani Mendis, APCD Resource Person in CBR noted, the mainstreaming of PWD in society and the significance of the CBR program.
The mission visited non-governmental and disabled peoples organizations; Rehab Lanka Institute, Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped, Joint Front Association, FRIDSRO and the Sri Lanka Confederation of Organization of the Handicapped People.
At the Rehab Lanka Institute run by disabled persons they shared their knowledge on management of vocational training for the disabled, the production of different types of wheelchairs and their cooperation with companies to market their products. Mr. Cyril Siriwardance explained his movement, as a member of the Sri Lanka National Council on Disability, to help the tsunami affected disabled persons and his involvement in the planning stages of an "accessible new city" in those areas.
The team met with the DAISY Lanka Foundation of the Blind and other visually impaired organizations, which provides many activities on ICT visually impaired persons.
The Joint Front Association and FRIDSRO actively support organizations for PWD. Activities by these organizations include promotion of the CBR program, capacity and leadership development, information and data development, inclusion of PWDs in all development, public awareness raising, particularly in the media sector, accessibility, and legislation issues. The mission visited Kandy and the CBR movement in one community where the Buddhist monk played an active role.
The mission participated in meetings organized by the Sri Lanka Confederation of Organization of the Handicapped People. Some former participants of APCD's Non-Handicapping Environment shared how they utilized their knowledge gained.
In the Maldives, the mission made a courtesy call to the Minister of Higher Education, Employment and Social Security, H.E. Mr. Sharif Ahamed. The cooperative relationship with the governmental focal point organization was exchanged. The mission visited the Division on Social Security, an implementing unit on disability issues and was welcomed by Mrs. Dheena , Deputy Director and her staff who received CBR training in India. In the Maldives, this government organization solely plays its mandate on disability work.
The mission visited the Center for Persons with Special Needs, which is under the Ministry of Higher Education, Empowerment and Social Affairs. The major outcome of mission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives were: confirmation with focal point organizations of APCD in these two countries for future collaboration, learning about the activities of the different disability-related organizations, and updating of information and digital image of disability-related organizations.
