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| Wednesday, 15 October 2003 |
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The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH), which is the pioneer and premier national self-help organisation of the blind in this country has been the only organisation to have marked International White Cane Day for the past 29 consecutive years. International White Cane Day was first declared in Sri lanka in 1969 at a conference of the International Federation of the Blind of which the late Rienzie Alagiyawanna was the President at that time states R.A. Sirisena General Secretary of the Federation in a press release. This year, the SLFVH will mark International White Cane Day with an awareness meeting at the auditorium of the Public Library, Colombo 7, commencing at 4.30 p.m. Kumar Abeysinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Mass Communication will be the chief guest at this meeting. At the meeting presentations will be made by senior office-bearers of the Federation and other distinguished personalities. White canes and other utility items as well as financial assistance for self-employment projects will be distributed amongst the members present. A musical presentation by visually handicapped musicians and singers will follow. The meeting will be preceded by a "White Cane Walk" from the SLFVH premises at Slave Island to the Public Library. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who is also the patron of the federation has issued a message in connection with International White Cane Day and the Annual Flag Week conducted by the Federation from October 15 to October 23, a copy of the message is sent herewith. She will also ceremonially hand over white canes to office-bearers of the Federation at President's House on October 17. The Federation is also conducting an essay competition for students on the theme "The White Cane User is also a Citizen of Sri Lanka". Winners and Runners-up in the under-12 and over-12 age groups in the Sinhala, Tamil and English language categories will be awarded prizes. The main sponsors of the above mentioned events are M/s. Ceylon Ambuja Cements (Pvt) Ltd prominent businessman and philanthropist Thusitha Wijesena. |
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