10th July 2020 10:55:54 Hours
A string of grateful initiatives, co-ordinated personally by Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunarathna, Secretary of Defence with the full backing of former Commander of the Army, General (Retd) Daya Ratnayake, Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath weerasekera, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Ranaviru Seva Authority, Ministry of Defence, Directorate of Veteran Affairs in the Army and the Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) Regimental HQ resulted in one more visually and physically-handicapped War Hero of our time being rewarded with an Army troops-built new house at Nationalwatte, Gokarella this morning (4) during a simple warming ceremony.
The auspicious formal house-warming ceremony of Corporal E. P Mahinda Edirisooriya of Sri Lanka National Guard who sustained serious injuries in the battlefield in 1991, depriving him of his full vision and both arms was attended by Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunarathna, Secretary of Defence as the Chief Guest, together with Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak and a few Senior Officers, including Major General Rasika Fernando, Deputy Chief of Staff and Colonel of the Regiment, SLNG and Mrs Chithrani Gunarathna, Chairperson, MOD Seva Vanitha Unit.
The Ministry of Defence-managed 'Meth Sewana' War Heroes' Housing Development project has released the majority of the funds for the construction as an appreciation of this War Hero's commitment for restoration of peace and his heroic battlefield deeds as one who was at the forefront of the battle lines in the most crucial periods of LTTE terrorism. His Regiment, Sri Lanka National Guard on the directions of its Colonel of the Regiment undertook its entire construction, mustering engineering and technical expertise of SLNG soldiers.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, together with Major General Rasika Fernando, Colonel of the Regiment, SLNG and the day's beneficiary, Corporal E. P Mahinda Edirisooriya welcomed the day's Chief Guest on arrival before symbolic ribbon-cutting, conduct of religious blessings, milk pot boiling ritual and award of household accessories got underway. In his brief speech to the occasion, the beneficiary recalled the interest shown towards this project by the Secretary Defence, former Commander of the Army, General (Retd) Daya Ratnayake, Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera and the incumbent Commander who also on request provided employment to one of the beneficiary's two sons as a soldier in the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment and extended deep sense of gratitude to all those who supported for construction of his new residence.
The beneficiary at the end of the brief ceremony expressed his gratitude to the day's Chief Guest, Secretary Defence by awarding a special memento.
Family relatives, well-wishers, senior officers, officers and other ranks were associated with the day's house-warming ceremony. latest jordan Sneakers | Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "UNC Patent Leather" Obsidian/Blue Chill-White UK
