Commander Encourages Disabled War Heroes at Yakkala Army Ranaviru Apparels Industries

‘Disabled War Heroes - run state-of-the-art Ranaviru Apparels industries of the Sri Lanka Army at Yakkala, were to be upgraded and elevated to be in line with international standards after quality of its products is raised under a new modernization programme,’ so opined Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army when he made his first visit to the Yakkala Ranaviru Apparels factory this morning (31) for an inspection tour at the invitation of the factory.

He was welcomed by Brigadier H.M.L.B Herath, Director, Ordnance Services of the Army, together with the Commandant, Ranaviru Apparels, Yakkala. A drive-past Guard Turnout, presented by the troops at the factory on arrival saluted the visiting Commander in accordance with military traditions.

Lieutenant General Senanayake afterwards inspected the factory complex, accommodation facilities of Other Ranks in the premises, production units, swimming pool construction site in progress and other areas of interest, etc before he spoke to the 500-strong workforce who are mostly differently able, identical to those working in the Alawwa factory.

Lieutenant General Senanayake in his address to the workforce assured all possible assistance to raise the factory standards and underlined the importance of upgrading it to match with international standards. “Reaching the international market for foreign exchange in the future means that your contribution towards the country would gain further recognition. You are already supplying 85% of Army uniform requirements of high standards and must be able to reach the 100% capacity in the future”, he remarked.

Lieutenant General Senanayake at the same occasion instructed the Commandant to finish the construction of the partly-completed swimming pool complex in the compound, at least by next September, for which the Commander promised support.

The Army Chief at the occasion shared a couple of views with members of the workforce and listened to their comments and suggestions after his address was delivered.

Before the Commander’s exit from the premises, he planted a sapling in the compound, signed the visitors’ book at the office and posed for a group photograph with All Ranks.

Lieutenant General Senanayake at the same time took time off to speak to groups of Corps of Engineer Service (CES) troops, attending new constructions inside the premises and encouraged them to complete those projects as early as possible.

During Lieutenant General Senanayake’s stay there, respective officers in charge of ordnance equipment presented detailed accounts on equipment and other accessories, giving a glimpse of their operability.

In the year 1993, the project for training of disabled soldiers was founded with the support of the Training Institute for Garments Industry after the need to do so was identified by the then Director of Rehabilitation, Brigadier (Retd) H.I.K Fernando and implemented with the blessings of the then Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General (Retd) L.H. De Silva.

The foundation-stone laying ceremony for construction of the Army’s first-ever establishment of the Yakkala Ranaviru Apparels took place on March 27, 1996 in a 5-acre land, donated by the philanthropist, Mr David Merric Peiris who later on also sold five more acres for a nominal value, considering the noble cause of the project.

The production process kicked off in August 1997 with 25 machines after 60 disabled soldiers, interested in garment industry, were screened, mobilized and referred for further training, thanks to the patronage of the pioneering, Tri Star Apparel Exports of Mr Kumar Devapura and the State Training Institute for Garment Industry.