New Commander in His First Assignment Interacts with Injured War Heroes

The 24th Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, just a couple of hours after assumption of his new office on Wednesday (1) at Sri Jayawardenepura Army Headquarters added prioritized attention and visited injured War Heroes under recuperation at Attidiya ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ (MSM) in order to learn about their well-being.

During his stay at the healing house, he freely spoke to those War Heroes who have sacrificed their legs and limbs for defence of the motherland and visited the wards. Showing fatherly concern, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage with his spouse, Mrs Janaki Liyanage interacted with bed-ridden War Heroes before he shared thoughts with other residential War Heroes. He also inquired into their well-being and received an update on therapeutic aspects and healing practices, being managed at this wellness resort. The new Commander also spoke to the medical staff after each War Hero was given a special gift parcel, consists of essentials.

Afterwards, he met wheelchair-borne set of War Heroes and gave them also gift packets who had by then arrived at the ground floor. During refreshments, the new Commander of the Army, received a first-hand account of the roles and tasks of the ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ from the MSM Commandant, Colonel Priyantha Liyanage.

At the same time, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage spoke out his mind in a brief speech and assured all possible assistance to those War Heroes who remain permanently injured for the remainder of their lives. Recalling their bravery and acts of heroism during humanitarian operations before May 2009, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage paid a glowing tribute to their sacrifices saying that the country’s territorial integrity was safeguarded by them.

The Army Chief said he prioritized the visit to the wellness resort here as the first official commitment upon assumption of new office and said that because of your sacrifices we are able to live in peace. " I will not forget your sacrifices until my death whether I hold this office or not. I will do whatever possible to get you the best facilities and we would not send anyone of you home without your will. Only if you so desire and a medical board would recommend, it will be done. You need not bother about those allegations. Because I know very well the sufferings we underwent in the battles, " he added.

During his stay there, he also saw several handicrafts produced by those War Heroes and made inquiries into their different aesthetic skills and capabilities. Before his departure Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage at the request of the MSM Commandant left a few lines of compliments in the visitors’ book. A memento was also presented to the Commander of the Army in appreciation of his visit to the ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ and the gesture was reciprocated.

Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Channa Weerasuriya, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force HQ, Major General Swarna Bothota, Adjutant General, Major General Prasanna Ranawaka ,Quarter Master General , Master General Ordnance, Major General Shiran Abeysekara, Director General Financial Management, Major General Chandana Wickremasighe General Officer Commanding 51 Division , Brigadier, Rohan Rajapaksa, Director Welfare, Brigadier Shiron Ekanayake, Director Rehabilitation, Brigadier Crishantha Fernando,Colonel Commandant Sri Lanka army Medical Corps, Colonel Priyantha Liyanage, Commandant, ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’, Senior Officers and Officers were present there.