Amateur Radio Class for the Blind

I am conducting a Ham Radio class, free of charge for the blind , who have a real interest in the field..

This service was started by late Mr.John Amaratunge (4S7JA-"John"-silent key). He started this service commemorate the year of the disabled in 1981 at the School for the Blind, Ratmalana; and then Mr. Kulasekara (4S7KG-"Kule") joined ; then I too joined them around 1988. Now I am continuing with Kule. In June 1999 these classes were shifted from Ratmalana to "Sri Lanka National Federation for the Visualy Handycaped" in Colombo.

As a result of this project there are 8 licensed radio amateurs:- 4S7OV – "Ovi", 4S5BJ – "Bon", 4S5NA – "Neel", 4S7AA – "Asgar" , 4S6KV – "Vasntha" , 4S7AG - "Gunasena" , 4S7SG - "Gamage" and 4S7WM - "Wimal".

4S7OV - Ovi :- Retired English teacher 78 years old. The First blind ham in Sri Lanka. He had his primary & secondary educatuion at Seevali Vidyalaya, Ratnapura. (1938- 1947). While he is serving as an English teacher in "Sinhalagoda Buddhist mixed school" gradually he had lost his vision in 1951. Then he joined the "School For The Blind " at Balangoda and retired in 1983. He had learned electronics since his childhood and started to learn Ham radio in 1989 and got the licence in 1992.

4S5BJ - Bon :- Retired teacher 74 years old. He was the Vice-Principal of the School for the Blind – Ratmalana. When he was 26 years old (1953) he lost his vision gradually and now he is totally blind.He got the licence in 1993

4S5NA - Neel :- A teacher at the the School for the Blind – Ratmalana. He is totally blind since birth.

4S7AA - Asgar :- 42 years old. He lost his vision around 1980 while he was a medical student . He got his licence around 1994.

4S6KV - Vasantha :- 32 years old. He was a student at the University of Kelaniya and completed his General Degree (BA). He studied at the School for the Blind – Ratmalana. He got his license in 1996.

4S7AG - Guney :- 53 years old. He was born blind, and he got his General Degree (BA) from the University of Kelaniya and LLB from the Law College Colombo. Now he is a teacher at Meegahathenna Central School. He got the novice licence in January, 2001 and upgraded for General Class in March, same year. (click here for vist to his web site)

4S7SG - Gamage :- 55 years old and totally blind. Now retired, after 24 years of service at the "Ceylon Tobaco Co." For more details please visit his web site. He got his general class licence in the April 2001. He doesn't have any hf/vhf equipment for come on the air. I hope to build a QRP CW TRX for hf.

4S7WM - Wimal :- 52years old and totally blind. He passed his LLB from the law college Colombo and he is working as a lawyer. He got his general class licence in the April 2001. He doesn't have any hf/vhf equipment for come on the air. I hope to build a QRP CW TRX for hf.

Installation of HAM station

On the 4th of May 2000, 4S7KG - Kule , 4S6JV - Gaurika (my son) and I, went to 4S7AG's home at Meegahathenna and installed vhf antenna and TRX system for 2m-band operation. We spent more than three hours to find out a suitable location for the antenna, because that area is covered with a mountain range. I hope to go there again  and install HF CW QRP TRX.

Anyone who wish to donate equipment to blind operatores are kindly requested to contact me (4S7VJ).

Edited: Saturday, February 14, 2004