Header

Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

'Soldiers' Welfare Membership Pays Dividends to Go for Mega Projects'- Commander


Sri Lanka Army-managed ‘Lāya Leisure’ Hotel at Kukuleganga is to run one of its new outlets, now open in the new state-of-the-art mega cafeteria (awanhala) complex at Welipenna service area on E-1 Colombo-Galle Expressway.

The ceremonial opening of the new ‘Lāya Seafood Restaurant’ outlet by Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, took place on Tuesday (21) morning during a brief ceremony as one more welfare wing of the Army where E-1 road-users are able to buy fresh meals at affordable price.

Sri Lanka Army in conformity with the government’s ongoing tourism promotion drive saw its widely used leisure outlets across the country be given a new exposure, facelift and modernization, bringing all of them recently under the brand name, ‘Lāya Beach’ (Wadduwa), ‘Lāya Leisure’ (Kukuleganga) and ‘Lāya Safari’ (Yala). Tuesday’s (21) opening of this seafood cafeteria is one more attempt in the same direction.
 
Chanting of Seth Pirith and lighting of the traditional oil lamp as symbols of blessings on the project followed unveiling of the cafeteria’s signboard, ‘Lāya Seafood Restaurant’ as invitees looked on.

Talking to a section of media personnel, covering the event afterwards, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya told them that numerous welfare projects, including this outlet, have been made possible due to welfare membership paid by each and every soldier soon after enlistment to the Army.

“Such welfare membership deposits, now matured as dividend payments which are managed by Directorate of Welfare in the Army enable us to go for mega welfare projects of exceptional nature, like Lāya Hotel chain, Ranaviru Apparels, Rehabilitation Centers, Ranaviru Resource Center, etc. The Army does not place any burden on Army personnel to fund or maintain such projects, either,” the Commander specified.

A gathering of senior officers and invitees attended the opening ceremony.