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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Former Combatants During Wanni Vesak Celebrations Sing Devotional Songs

A series of Vesak commemorative ceremonies organized under the auspices of the Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W) attracted hundreds of Wanni civilians during the Vesak week (May 1-7).

To begin with, the SFHQ-W distributed more than 20 first aid boxes among pre-schools / schools under 211 Brigade Headquarters areas, together with a stock of medicine to each box.

On May 4, a mobile clinic, sponsored by Bokkawala FOIDSRO institute treated more than 445 ailing civilians in Pahala Halmillewa after inviting them to the Pahala Halmillewa Community Centre, situated in the Medawachchiya Divisional Secretariat.

A similar group of medical officers, sponsored by Colombo Lions Club conducted two mobile clinics at Vavuniyawa Sri Sumana Vidyalaya and Madukanda Sri Dalada Viharaya. Both these clinics examined over 711 civilians and treated them for various illnesses and ailments. The project took place on Vesak day.

  On Sunday (6), with the support the troops received from Colombo Lions Club, elders at Vavuniya Sivam Kovil Elders’ Home were provided with necessary footwear.

On Friday (4), Major General A.K.S Perera, Commander, SFHQ-W joined his staff at the headquarters and offered lunch to those destitute children, resident at Etambagaskada Sri Sudarshanarama Temple. On the same occasion, members of the Maha Sangha in the temple were offered alms on account of the Vesak commemoration.

The Vesak zone at Sri Bodhidakshinarama temple in the center of Vavuniya town turned to be a huge crowd puller during May 5-7 as it displayed a number of multi coloured and illuminated Vesak lanterns, recital of Buddhist devotional songs and a number of other decorative items.

During this programme, a group of former LTTE combatants, now under rehabilitation at Vavuniya Poonthottam Rehabilitation Centre, joined the recital of devotional songs (Bhakthi Gee) in Sinhala and Tamil and drew a huge attraction. Thousands of civilians of all ethnicities visited the Vesak zone during those three days, despite their differences in ethnicity.

Opening of the Vesak zone took place on Saturday (5) during a brief ceremony attended by Major General A.K.S Perera, Commander, SFHQ (W), District Secretary for Vavuniya and a host of other invitees.