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SRI LANKA, October 18, 2003: Sri Lanka’s Hindu Religious Affairs Ministry has released US$16,000 for the purchase of new clothes for people in thirty-five orphanages, homes of the aged, children homes and women welfare centers in the north east of the country for Deepavali, said a ministry press release. The Ministry had earlier made an appeal to all Hindu temples and institutions on the island to distribute new clothes to a minimum of ten people each. Accordingly, more than one hundred Hindu religious institutions came forward to distribute new clothes and to hold “annathanam” (free meal) on Deepavali Day. The festival falls on October 24 this year. Deepavali Day celebration will be held in Colombo under the State patronage on Thursday at Bambalapitiya New Kathiresan Hall in Colombo. Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe will be the chief guest. A special postage stamp depicting the importance of Deepavali Festival will be released.

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