Social Welfare Ministry programmes in East

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry will launch a programme titled Negenahirata Neganahiru on November 16 to offer various social welfare services for the people in the East, a Ministry spokesman said.

This is a brainchild of Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lionel Premasiri.

He said nine Social Care Centres will be opened in the East at a cost of Rs. 8.5 million.

The programme will continue on November 17 and 18 during which the people in the East will be provided with spectacles, eye lenses, wheelchairs, crutches, financial support for surgeries, sewing machines for widows, financial and material support to commence self-employment and vocational training.

The Ministry will also conduct mobile eye and dental clinics, Western and Ayurvedic medical camps and counselling services for 618 families at Kadiraweli in Vakarai.

The Ministry has organised a cultural festival on November 16 and 17 presented by a large number of artistes visiting Vakarai from Colombo. The cultural festival will include both Sinhala and Tamil cultural items.