Orange lights up ANCL Vesak celebrations

by Nadira Gunatilleke

Orange, the reputed electrical wiring accessories company, has come forward as the main sponsor of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) Vesak celebrations this year. This is the second year that Orange is sponsoring ANCL Vesak celebrations.

The agreement for the sponsorship which amounts to Rs.1 million was signed at a simple ceremony held at the ANCL yesterday with the participation of ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris, Orange Chief Executive Officer Ananda Rajapakse and several other officials both from ANCL and Orange.

Addressing the gathering after signing the agreement, ANCL Chairman Peiris said that the ANCL is organising its annual Vesak lantern competition, Bhakthi Gee and other Vesak celebrations on the theme `Amadahara Vesak Kalapaya' with the participation of all State and private institutions located around ANCL. This year the zone will be much more colourful than in previous years.

He also said that Orange sponsored ANCL Vesak festival last year and also came forward to sponsor this year's Vesak festival. He invited Orange to sponsor the ANCL Vesak festival in the coming years as well. He requested all media to give due publicity to Amadahara Vesak Kalapaya considering it a common national religious festival.

Orange CEO Ananda Rajapakse said that Orange sponsored the ANCL Vesak festival last year and it is an honour for them to sponsor the same event this year under their new Orange brand name.

"This year we sponsor this event not as a business venture, but as a service to the nation. We promise to sponsor the ANCL Vesak festival next year," he added.

Attractive cash prizes will be given to the winners of this year's ANCL Vesak lantern competition.

The first prize will be Rs.125,000 and the second prize will be Rs.75,000. A cash prize of Rs.50,000 will be offered for the third place winner. The fourth prize is Rs.25,000 and the fifth prize is Rs.10,000. Ten prizes of Rs.5000 will also be offered. The winners from 11th to 15th places will be offered Rs.2500 each.

`Ama Dahara Vesak Sadaham Kalapaya (Ama Dahara Vesak Zone) on Vesak days around ANCL will extend to Gamini Hall junction, Slave Island, Galle Face and Pettah. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), Finance Ministry, President's Secretariat, HDFC, National Housing Development Authority, Transport Ministry, Inland Revenue Department, Harbour, Sri Lanka Telecom, Electricity Board, private and State banks, Fort Police and Armed Forces, Three Wheeler Association, and several other State and private institutions will get together under this programme.

Consultant to the Editorials, ANCL, Karunaratne Paranavithana, Director Finance, ANCL, Sonali Dissanayake, Counsel, Legal and Corporate Affairs of Orange, Channa Ranasinghe, assistant Manager, Marketing Communications, Orange, Anthony Geethal and several other officials from the ANCL and Orange were present.