The Army’s largest savings fund, ‘The Army Benevolent Fund’, composed of Army personnel’s savings, loan schemes, deposit releases, pensions, welfare, etc, turned a new leaf when a newly- installed free and open software fund management programme, was introduced on Monday (17) for effective implementation and administration, thanks to generosity, shown by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).
The ceremonial inauguration saw Mr Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to President as Chief Guest for the occasion formally hand over the new computerization programme to the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, in the presence of Prof. P.W Epasinghe, Chairman, ICTA and several distinguished invitees. A special presentation explained how the system was streamlined with the computer technology at the beginning of the day’s ceremony.
The Army Benevolent Fund in the past 30 - 35 years, sticking to formal routine and traditional practices which are mostly archaic, has been hitherto managed by a small group of Army clerks who possessed only a basic training on the management of a fund of this magnitude.
Mr Weerathunge during his brief address to the occasion commended the Army personnel who dedicate themselves for the development of the country without asking any perks or overtime payments against their work assignments.
“I feel honoured to be amongst you all having been invited to be your Chief Guest on this important juncture when the Army is entering the era of modern IT technology.”
He reminded that the defeat of terrorism and the pursuant development, undertaken by the government under the able leadership of HE the President is now attracting more and more investors to the country and the country would witness an unprecedented revival of economic development by 2016.
“HE the President with your whole-hearted support stood firm and unmoved despite the series of external pressures brought on him and the government. The President therefore is of the view that all assistance in whatever the way possible should be granted to our heroic forces at all times as well as to their family members. In the future, all Army personnel and their family members with the new software technology and the rapid growth of ‘E - Sri Lanka Nenasala’ across the island and Army formations will have easy access to their data and other information.” Mr Weerathunge said.
Mr Wijethunga speaking high of the commitment, shown by Army soldiers towards the country said that unlike other employees, a soldier never asks for overtime payments. ‘A soldier, who goes out of a bunker, fights the enemy and he never knows whether he would come back alive. He leaves his children, parents and everyone and gives priority to his duties. We all move about with full freedom today because of him and there is no better way for us to thank him than providing him with these facilities,’ he said.
Foundation stone-laying ceremony for construction of a three-storied building to the Directorate of the Army Benevolent Fund for its effective and exclusive management also took place on the same occasion, prior to the brief ceremony for award of the new ICTA software to the Army.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya after his assumption of office as Commander with the sole objective of enabling Army officers / other ranks to enjoy a financially stable happy retirement revamped the unit in August 2009 and re-established it as Directorate of the Army Benevolent Fund, providing a speedier and more efficient service to the members.
Reaping the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Monday’s (17) computerization of this mammoth fund after several years of hard work, carried out jointly by ICTA staff, Army data technicians and undergraduates of several local universities, enables the Army to carry out its implementation with greater efficiency, effectiveness and speed to be in line with the fast developing modern technology, a privilege that has been deprived to the Army for so many years because of its commitment elsewhere to the defeat of terrorism. The new software after it was introduced was tested out practically for one whole year before its ceremonial induction this afternoon (17).
Mr Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to President and Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence who were instrumental in making the project a reality after the requirement was projected to them, provided necessary funds for its implementation as a special gesture of their considerateness towards the Army and respect for numerous sacrifices of the War Heroes. The project is in line with the government’s policy vision, ‘Mahinda Chinthana’.
The software application that would immensely benefit thousands of members of the Army, both serving or retired, has been made available free of charge by the ICTA to the Army as a special recognition of selfless sacrifices of the War Heroes and also as a tribute to their dedication.
Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya received the visiting Chief Guest, Mr Lalith Weeratunge who has been the guiding star behind Sri Lanka’s e-Sri Lanka programme of the government. Brigadier Keerthi Rajapaksa welcomed the Commander of the Army on arrival at the Panagoda Army Cantonment premises.
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