The first flag of the “Flag’s Sales Week”, organized to mark International White Cane Day was pinned to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, today (10).

President of the Sri Lanka Council of Visually Handicapped Graduates, Mr. Sarath Kumara Madugaswaththa pinned the first flag on President Sirisena and the President, marking the White Cane Day, presented a white cane.

At this event, it was discussed in detail regarding the issues faced by them and they presented a document to the President, listing out the problems unique to the handicapped, the President’s Media Division said.

The Sri Lanka Council of Visually Handicapped Graduates informed the President that they need a sum of Rs 1.7 million to complete the auditorium, which is being built to cater the needs of visually impaired persons and at that moment, President Sirisena responding to their request donated Rs 2 million to construct that building expeditiously.

Meanwhile the first badge commemorating the World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10, was pinned on President Sirisena today at the Presidential Secretariat.

Director of Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka, Sunil Nanayakkara pinned the badge on the President

The President presented felicitation awards to Mrs. S. A. Mary Nona and Mr. W. A. Nicholas of the Consumer Action Network Mental Health Lanka for their service rendered to the patients.

The President was also presented a souvenir at this occasion.

WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Razia Pendse, Additional Director General of Medical Services Dr. Lakshmi Somatunga and Senior Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Neil Fernando were also present at this occasion.