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| Wednesday, 03 November 2004 |
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International White Cane Day was celebrated for the 35th consecutive year recently at the Royal College Hall, Colombo 7. Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance was the chief guest. Around 600 members and their families gathered at the premises of the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) at Slave Island earlier in the day. After lunch, they proceeded in a White Cane Walk led by a musical troupe to the venue of the meeting. They carried banners and slogans asking for equal opportunities and that the visually handicapped should not be discriminated due to their disability. The procession progressed in a very peaceful and orderly manner but the message rang out loud and clear. The chief guest was greeted in the traditional manner by E.M. Navaratne Banda, President of the SLFVH and other officials and the band from the School for the Blind, Ratmalana led the procession at the Hall. Apart from the address by he chief guest, presentations were made by other officials on the significance of the White Cane Day. The Army Musical Group provided entertainment and also backed the blind singers. The members present received white canes and other householder requirements for which the main sponsor was prominent philanthropist Thusitha Wijesena. Officials of the Ranaviru Authority also provided personnel for the successful conduct of the event. In addition, the Gampaha Branch of the Federation held its White Cane Day awareness meeting on October 21 at the Vocational Training centre, Seeduwa. The Kandy Branch of the Federation also held its meeting at the Town Hall, Nuwara Eliya on October 26 while the Kurunegala Branch conducted its meeting on October 29 and the Galle Branch on October 30 at the Galle Town Hall. |
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