Since 1964, White Cane Safety Day has been a national observance around the world celebrated on October 15 each year. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and to highlight the important symbol of blindness and its tool of independence, the white cane.
The White Cane Day celebration in the north of Sri Lanka was organised by the Vanni Association for Visually Handicapped and the event was organised at the Kilinochchi district Cooperative society hall, with Mrs Rubavathy Keetheswaran, Kilinochchi district government agent, being the chief guest.
The distribution of 100 No’s white canes, donated by Lyca’s Gnanam Foundation to the visually handicapped participants, was made in the presence of the chief guest and other special invitees including Rev. Fr.Albert Arulraj, Director VAROD, Zonal Director of Education Mr. Kanthasamy Murukavelu, District Social Service Officer Mr.Vethayanagam Thabanthiran, National Visually Handicapped Northern President Mr K.Vijayarajasingam and Mr.S.Rubaraj Vanni from the Association of the visually handicapped.