REFUGEE

The Social Services and Social Welfare Minister and EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda participated as the Chief Guest in the function held to honour the elders who had been toiling through their life for their family and the development of the society and the differently abled persons at the Kopay Divisional Secretariat yesterday.

Forerunners of our society, the elders and the differently abled persons should be honoured and respected. This type of functions should be held constantly, said Minister Devananda in this function held on the head of Kopay Divisional Secretary CA. Mohanadas.

While thanking the employees of the Kopay Divisional Secretariat for organising this event the Minister said, due to the prevailed situation in the country I was also driven to a corner during the last 20 years but today President Mahinda Rajapaksa has paved the way for us to move freely and participate in functions like this. I take this opportunity to thank the President with gratitude.

The Minister honoured three elders aged over 96 years by draping them with golden shawls (Ponnadai) and said the elders should guide the younger generation with the experiences they gained.