31st January 2022 21:17:18 Hours
To be in line with the "Way Forward Strategy-2020-2025" as conceptualized by the Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Colonel of the Regiment of Gajaba Regiment, General Shavendra Silva, the Gajaba Regiment (GR) Regimental HQ at Saliyapura erected three new houses for physically-disabled War Heroes and family members of fallen ones with financial grants, made available jointly by both Directorate of Veteran Affairs and Gajaba Regimental Centre.
All those three houses were warmed in separate inaugural ceremonies during 25-27 January with the participation of Major General Sanjeewa Fernando, General Officer Commanding 53 Division, Brigadier Janaka Pallekumbura, Commander 112 Brigade and Brigadier Rohitha Rathnayaka, Commander 111 Brigade respectively.
The auspicious warming and formal inauguration of those three new houses at Gonapinuwala in Hikkaduwa, Kotapola in Deniyaya, and Dalukgolla in Redeegama respectively took place in separate ceremonies as per guidelines given by the Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Colonel of the Regiment, Gajaba Regiment General Shavendra Silva during three days.
On Tuesday (25) the house built for families of the fallen War Hero, Sergeant K P S Pathmasiri -15 (V) GR who laid his life at Kodikamam, Jaffna due to a terrorist attack in 1996 was vested with his family members in a simple ceremony at Gonapinuwala, organized by 15 (V) Gajaba Regiment jointly with Gajaba Regimental Centre troops under the supervision of the Centre Commandant, Colonel Shirantha Millagala. Major General Sanjeewa Fernando, General Officer Commanding 53 Division as the Chief Guest warmed the house along with family members. At the same occasion, the beneficiaries were gifted with a dining table along with four chairs, a gas cooker and a coffee table as household requirements. The GR Centre Commandant, Colonel Shirantha Millagala. Commanding Officer of 15 (V) Gajaba Regiment Major P. Prasanna were among the participants in the event.
On Thursday (26) the house built for another Other Rank of the 14 GR, a father of four children who became physically disabled during the Wanni Humanitarian Operation at Pudukuduyirppu, Mullaittivu in 2009 was inaugurated in a ceremony at Kotapola, jointly organized by the 14 Battalion Gajaba Regiment and the Gajaba Regimental Centre. Brigadier Janaka Pallekumbura, Commander, 112 Brigade as the Chief Guest graced the warming ceremony. At the same occasion, the beneficiary was gifted with a sofa along with a coffee table and a dining table with six chairs as household requirements. The Commanding Officer of the 14 Gajaba Regiment, Major Damith Mirihella, Staff Officer- 1 (Veterans Affairs) at Gajaba Regimental Centre were among the participants at the house warming ceremony.
Another physically-handicapped War Hero of 14 GR, who became physically-handicapped during the Wanni Humanitarian Operation at Mulaittivu in 2009 was vested with a new house in Dalukgolla on Thursday (27). It was inaugurated in a ceremony, jointly organized by the 3 and 10 Battalions of the Gajaba Regiment. The ceremony was graced by Brigadier Rohitha Rathnayaka, Commander, 111 Brigade as the Chief Guest. At the same occasion, the house beneficiary was gifted with a 32” LED Television, a gas cooker and a rice cooker as household appliances for the new house. The Commanding Officer of 3 Gajaba Regiment, Major Sameera Ambagahaduwa and Commanding Officer,10 Gajaba Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Sudeera Abeynayaka were among the participants at the ceremony.
Despite setbacks, posed by COVID-19 pandemic, the GR's house construction project was effectively completed owing to the untiring commitment of the troops of the 3,14 and 15 (v) Battalions of the Gajaba Regiment under the close supervision of the Commanding Officers of respective battalions as per guidelines given by the GR Regimental Centre.
Family members of all those three families, relatives and troops who contributed to the construction works participated in those warming ceremonies, conducted adhering to current health guidelines.
