Brunei Darussalam will celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice on the 21st of this month. This was announced on Radio and Television Brunei Tuesday evening by Dato Paduka Awang Haji Metussin bin Haji Baki, the Syari'e High Court Judge.

The Sunnat Hari Raya Aidil Adha prayers will be held at all mosques and suraus throughout the country at 7.30 in the morning on that day.

Following the Meeting on Humanitarian Assistance to Tsunami-Affected Communities held on Monday in Geneva to discuss the immediate long-term responses, including relief and recovery and emergency rehabilitation. His Majesty's Government pledged a further financial contribution of 6 million Brunei dollars.

A Relief Fund for Victims of the Tsunami Disaster was also established on the 3rd January 2005 to receive financial donations from government ministries and agencies, schools, members of the private sector, business associations and the general public. The Fund will remain open for six months.

In addition, the Ministries of Defence and Health sent an advanced delegation to the Province of Aceh on the 9th of this month to assess the situation, identify necessary humanitarian relief assistance and undertake coordination and preparations for the arrival of humanitarian assistance from Brunei Darussalam.

In announcing these measures, the Prime Minister's Office expressed the appreciation of His Majesty's Government for the generous response made by the general public, government agencies, businesses and members of the private sector.

Brunei Darussalam Relief Fund for Tsunami Victims continues to receive contributions from generous donors. The Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Hussein who is also the Chairman of the Brunei Darussalam Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund, Tuesday received more than 200 thousand dollars from various government departments, banks and private firms as well as associations and individuals.

Among them were the Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei which donated 50 thousand dollars, the Royal Brunei Police Force $9,000; the combined Associations of the Peoples of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand donated 100 thousand dollars; and the family of the late Awang Sim Eng Boo, donated 10 thousand dollars; and the proceeds from a charity sale of 25 thousand dollars.

So far the fund has collected more than one point six million dollars.

The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation reveals it has plans to construct an orphanage and a mosque in the worst affected areas of Aceh. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin disclosed this in an interview with RTB regarding its role to help the Aceh Tsunami victims.

Yang Berhormat Pehin said the Foundation wishes to assure members of the public who have donated to the Tsumani Relief Fund initiated by the Foundation that their donations will reach those who are in need. Yang Berhormat has also convinced the donors that by God's Will the contributions will reach the destination with the close cooperation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, which will fly the donations with the help of volunteers.

Besides that doctors and skilled volunteers will also be flown to Aceh with the assistance of the Brunei Armed Forces. Yang Berhormat Pehin said that the Foundation has received large quantities of clothing, but said donations in the form of food are urgently needed. Yang Berhormat Pehin went on to say that cash donations are hardly needed especially in the reconstruction effort.

Eight companies under the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry donated almost 30 thousand dollars to the fund. Representatives of the respective companies handed over their donations to the Yang Berhormat.

A number of private companies also handed over donations in the form of clothing and other necessities.

Officers and staff of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation also contributed one thousand 5 hundred dollars for the Tsunami Relief Fund.

Prior to his departure to Aceh Tuesday night, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry Culture Youth and Sport, Awang Haji Jemat in an interview with RTB gave an assurance to members of the public that their donations will reach to those needy people in Aceh as soon as possible.

The money will be used to purchase food, water and other necessities in Medan and will be brought to Aceh.

Present at the airport was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Pehin Dato Doctor Awang Haji Hussin. Awang Haji Jemat was accompanied by the Director of Community Development, Datin Hajah Adina who also the Secretary of the Relief Fund.

Captain John Bushell of 7 Flight Army Air Corps in an interview said that the team comprises of 12 air and ground troops, 2 medics and a mechanics and

Mosques nowadays are not merely places of worship but are also centres of propagating and gaining knowledge and conducting various religious activities. And providing access to the latest technology in information and communication technology to worshippers especially the youth has now becoming prominent.

The Kampung Salambigar mosque in Jalan Muara is now equipped with computer networks. Tuesday night a function to hand over 5 computer units and network servers was held. They were contributions from Mach Telecommunications System and Lucent Technologies World services. Present at the function was the Director of Mosque Affairs, Awang Hj Ismail bin Hj abdul Manaf.