Sri Lanka, Oct. 6 -- A long-awaited overhaul of Sri Lanka's disability rights laws has moved a step forward, with the Parliamentary Forum for Persons with Disabilities holding extensive discussions on a new Bill to replace the 30-year-old legislation.

The proposed Bill seeks to repeal the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, and introduce a new legal framework to strengthen the rights and protections of persons with disabilities.

The Parliamentary Forum for Persons with Disabilities met recently at Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva to discuss the proposed legislation.

Addressing the forum, de Silva said the need for new legislation had been discussed continuously ove...