Commander Takes New Year Gifts to Disabled War Heroes at Ragama

Reminiscent of age-old practices during the times of Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the tradition of ‘Negam Yama’ (visit to relatives), was revived Wednesday (26) morning by Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army by calling at the Ragama Ranaviru Sevana (disabled War Heroes’ wellness resort for recuperation and rehabilitation) where a total of 115 injured War Heroes are cared for recuperation and rehabilitation.

A wheelchair-borne inmate at the Ranaviru Sevana offering a sheaf of betel warmly welcomed the visiting Commander on arrival. Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General Army Health Services, Major General Shavendra Silva, Adjutant General, Brigadier S. K. Tirunaukarisu, Director Rehabilitation and Brigadier Hemantha Kulathunga, Commandant, Ranaviru Sevana were present at the location to receive the visiting Commander.

Mingling freely with the inmates, Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva during his close interaction with those dependent inmates, exchanged New Year greetings and wished them fast recovery in a friendly manner while closely inquiring into their well-being, needs and health requirements, if any. On the same occasion, the Commander moving from one bed to the other awarded gift parcels to each and everyone on account of the New Year while talking to them.

In the same vein, the Commander intending to uplift standards further and supply them with better facilities during his stay discussed a few matters of administrative nature with Senior Officers and raised some inquiries, pertaining to its day-today conduct of affairs.

A few minutes later, the Commander took time off to have an unscheduled supervisory visit to the new construction site for production of artificial limbs inside the same premises. Taking a close look, the Commander shared a few thoughts with the Corps of Engineer Service (CES) troops working there. Commanding Officer, CES gave the Commander an update on the progress and other related matters.

He also didn't forget to talk to all the Officers and Other Rankers in the Ranaviru Sevana and express his gratitude to all of them for their dedication for the greater benefit of those disabled War Heroes before his exit from the venue. His near one and half hour-long interaction culminated with sharing of refreshments with inmates who are mobile.

During festive seasons, it is customary for the office of the Commander to attach special prominence to the welfare needs of disabled War Heroes, most of who are housed at island-wide Army-managed wellness resorts, such as ‘Abimansala 1, 2 & 3’, Ragama Ranaviru Sevana and the Attidiya Mihindu Seth Medura where hundreds of worst-affected War Heroes, continue to receive treatment or recuperative rehabilitation for the remainder of their lives.

Meanwhile, separate teams of Senior Officers, in parallel with the Commander’s New Year visit to the ‘Ranaviru Sevana’ on Wednesday (26) went to see Army personnel receiving treatment in island-wide medical institutions on account of the New Year. Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Chief of Staff was at the Colombo Army Hospital visiting the inmates with New Year gift parcels.

Taking New Year gift parcels, teams of senior officers visited Army personnel receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, Eye Hospital Colombo, Panagoda Army Base Hospital, Palaly Army Base Hospital, Jaffna, Anuradhapura Army Base Hospital and Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, Vavuniya Military Field Hospital, Anuradhapura Abimansala-I, Military Hospital, Mannar, Army Base Hospital, Minneriya, Army Wards at Ampara General Hospital, Army Wards at Welikanda Base Hospital, Kilinochchi Army Base Hospital, Mullaittivu Army Base Hospital, Kandy General Hospital, Diyatalawa Army Base Hospital, Abimansala-2, Kamburupitiya, Abimansala-3, Pangolla, Maharagama Cancer Hospital, Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and Angoda Mental Hospital.