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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Creating a Record, Secretary Defence Opens Many Military Welfare Projects in Jaffna

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, the pioneering architect behind establishment of state-of-the-art residential billets, administrative, recreational, welfare and other logistic buildings of high quality for the benefit of North-East based tri-service members, ceremonially opened a number of new pre-fabricated structures, new welfare projects of Army soldiers and a few public projects both at Kilinochchi and Jaffna peninsula during the course of Wednesday (8).  

At Kilinochchi, the visiting Mr Rajapaksa unveiled a plaque and opened the new ‘Nelum Piyasa’ Theatre building, erected by the Engineer troops of the Army at Iranamadu, Kilinochchi as the first segment of his day’s itinerary at the invitation of Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, in the company of Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN), senior officers and other ranks.

The theatre, ‘Nelum Piyasa’ at 9 Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC) formation premises at Iranamadu, Kilinochchi provides soldiers a platform to improve their talents and showcase their aesthetic skills during leisure or otherwise.

Minutes after that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his way to the ‘Harmony Centre’ at Kilinochchi, dropped in at the completely-renovated Kilinochchi Base Hospital in order to see it and exchange a few views with the authorities.

As the next item on the agenda, Mr Rajapaksa opened a new ‘Kids’ Corner’ at Kilinochchi Harmony Centre premises afterwards as a new complement to the existing project which has become enormously popular among the public in Kilinochchi as a symbol of reconciliation and freedom.   

Hundreds of people of all age frequent the Kilinochchi Harmony Centre on a daily basis for various commercial and other purposes, including rest and recreation. However, non-existence of a recreational facility for children, accompanying them, hitherto remained a major inconvenience to the adults. The Army provided labour and constructed the project.

The ‘Kids’ Corner’, complete with computer games, large toys, playing equipment and other fun-making children’s idols, etc, offers some limited space with a mini playground for collective games and other leisure activities of children.

Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ-KLN, showing his gratitude and making the visit of Mr Rajapaksa and the Commander of the Army a memorable one, presented symbolic mementos to them afterwards before they departed. Major General (Retd) G.A Chandrasiri, Governor for Northern Province also was one among the recipients of a souvenir from the Kilinochchi Security Force Commander.

On his way to Jaffna, Mr Rajapaksa, did not forget to have a close look and pay his tribute to the newly-unveiled life-size statue of Gamini Kularatne alias Hasalaka Hero who sacrificed his life, defending his camp at Elephant Pass, the gateway to the peninsula several years ago.

Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), commanded by Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, had meanwhile organized a string of opening ceremonies in the peninsula, giving due recognition to the visiting Secretary Defence who was behind realization of all those projects well in time.

The agenda in the peninsula, kicked off with his visit to open the newly-relocated 52 Division Headquarters at Mirusuvil. Welcomed by senior officers, the Chief Guest unveiled a plaque, cut a ribbon and opened the new Headquarters, amid religious observances. The new Headquarters was shifted to this location from Varani area after returning a large chunk of private land to rightful owners in Jaffna, to be in line with the government’s policy of vacating private property to the northerners.   

In order to take stock of soldiers’ facilities and other logistics, the visiting Secretary Defence, dropped in at the nearby 522 Brigade Headquarters at Irattapalai, Kilaly and 10 Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) unit serving the area where he spoke to a couple of officers and soldiers, alike before leaving for Palaly for more openings.

The day’s agenda then permitted Mr Rajapaksa to declare open a set of new wings at the peninsula’s most popular, ‘Thal Sevana Holiday Resort’ at Palaly. Luxuriously done 10 rooms, spacious restaurant, gymnasium and the reception hall, housed in a two-storied new building were afterwards opened by Mr Rajapaksa, in the company of Commander of the Army, Security Force Commander-Jaffna, Governor for Northern Province and a host of others.

Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, SFHQ-J, now on the eve of assuming duties in a new appointment after the brief ceremony, immortalized the memory by presenting symbolic mementos to both Secretary Defence and Commander of the Army before their departure from the venue.

Next stop for the Chief Guest was the relocated 513 Brigade Headquarters at Keeramalai. Identical to the Varani one, the new 513 Brigade Headquarters, formerly at Uduvil, responded to the national policy of releasing private land and was relocated at Keeramalai a few weeks back. Mr Rajapaksa formally opened the new building complex and interacted with the troops there before his exit from the premises to Palaly Military Base Hospital complex.

Turning the hospital to be a fully-fledged one and fulfilling much-needed medical requirements of all ranks, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ceremonially, invited to open the new two-storied building at Palaly Military Base Hospital afterwards. The state-of-the-art building that houses the new OPD, emergency unit, X-ray unit, laboratory, pharmacy, senior officers ward and a few more units, now enables indisposed troops to receive comprehensive treatment at this hospital without being referred, either to Colombo Military Hospital or elsewhere for further treatment.          

Wednesday’s series of openings add a new vigour and encouragement to the troops in Jaffna since it was the first time in the recent history that such a number of welfare projects, meant for them, was vested in them during the course of a single day.