Implementing another comprehensive and a landmark welfare project for all ranks in the Army, the novel Army Suwa Sahana scheme that provides an overall insurance package with multiple benefits, was inducted Thursday (2) morning at a ceremony held at Army Headquarters.
The new state-of-the-art, Suwa Sahana scheme, comprised of a comprehensive medical insurance policy, payment of grants in the event of deaths, permanent disability or terminal diseases, hospitalization or birth of a child, luxurious transport facilities for picnic purposes, construction of transit holiday resorts, reception centers, saw its birth as a conceptual notion of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake who earlier appointed a 11-member Special Board, chaired by Major General Jagath Dias for implementation of the new project with this special purpose in mind.
Thursday’s (2) formal launch of the Suwa Sahana scheme, occurred in a ceremony, graced by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake as the Chief Guest and flanked by many senior officers, including Major General Chrisantha de Silva, Chief of Staff, Major General E.P de Z Abeysekara, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Jagath Dias, Adjutant General, et al.
Major General Jagath Dias, Chairman, Suwa Sahana Fund Scheme symbolically presented a copy of the documented project to the Chief Guest and formally launched it.
The Commander explained the scheme, to be effected by the Directorate of Army Welfare to the attendees at the inaugural ceremony and urged support of all sections to implement this new relief package that would please everyone.
Identical to general life insurance projects operating elsewhere in the country, the Army pioneered Suwa Sahana scheme with its own multiple grants and benefits, is to be implemented with a monthly premium of Rs 500/= deducted from salaries. Grants in the range of Rs 10,000/= to Rs 750,000/= (maximum) are to be paid to the member, depending on the categories for which such benefits are sought.
The medical scheme is to provide such grants to Army families in the event of a birth or death of a child or a member, permanent disability, hospitalization, accident or injury, etc.
The operation of a luxurious coach service with purchase of five new Coaster buses, originating from Anuradhapura, Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle, to begin with, comes as a big welfare relief to all Army families living in those provinces since the service can be directly obtained for picnic or other purposes at subsided Rs 45/= a km basis for members of the Army or their families without any other costs. This new service will accordingly encourage Army personnel to undertake tour programmes on rest and recreation purposes, preferably with their family members, friends or relatives at an affordable price.
Establishment of reception halls, holiday houses for transit purposes or otherwise, enabling easy and comfortable movement of all ranks while travelling and for other matrimonial or function purposes, is one of the main facilities, to be implemented under this Suwa Sahana scheme. Such centers, expected to be set up at different major cities will begin at Nuwara Eliya with the first reception hall, planned in a 80 perch land block.
Each member on the completion of 70 years of age is able to withdraw the full amount of premiums at maturity he has made unless or otherwise, the member had taken any dividends from the Suwa Sahana scheme for any specified purposes during that period while the remaining balance against any payments, can also be obtained by others upon completion of 70 years under this scheme.
The Fund in the scheme, running similar to that of an insurance policy at the end of each year is to share 50% of its profit dividends among members who had to that date, made uninterrupted payments to the Suwa Sahana scheme, the ceremony was told.
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