Attaching greater significance to the eternal welfare concerns of South-resident disable Army War Heroes, the new wellness resort, ‘Abimansala - 2’ at Wilpitawatta, Kamburupitiya after its ceremonial opening on November 10, 2012, is to house 50 more dependent War Heroes of our times for lifetime care. The conceptual notion of the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthana Policy document under ‘protective homes’ (Rekawarana Niwasa), saw its fruition with the opening of the two maiden sanatorium-type lifetime care centres, Attidiya ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ and ‘Abimansala’ on the banks of Nuwara Wewa at Anuradhapura. In both these centres of solace, a few more than 100 dependent War Heroes are well cared, nurtured, and comfortably accommodated for lifelong well-being, rehabilitation, rest and recreation.
On the directions given by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, this visionary concept was carried further forward to the South, initiating the Army’s second construction of this nature at Wilpitawatta, Kamburupitiya by the Commander of the Army in January early this year after Land Reforms Commission, in response to the Army request, allocated a 10-acre plot of land, rich with serene natural surroundings, bio-diversity and waterways, bordering ‘Lenabatu Wewa’ for this noble mission. With the unfailing support of the ‘Brave Hearts’ fund-raising project of the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB), spearheaded by Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, SVAB, the construction of the whole project, has so far received a tremendous boost. The project was originally estimated to cost about Rs 240 million.
This state-of-the-art newest ‘Abimansala - 2’ complex, equipped with 7 Villas, 5 Cottages, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities, medical ward, swimming pool, gymnasium, medical laboratory, dining hall, kitchen, indigenous medicine unit, residential quarters for staff, etc, which are not on hand in their respective residential areas of those dependent ones, is to be manned round the clock by a medical team during the rest of their lives.
To begin with, Southern Province-based 28 disable War Heroes on wheelchairs and 20 totally handicapped War Heroes who need 24 hour vigil, are to be accommodated in the new Abimansala - 2 after proper medical screening and categorization, is conducted by the Army Medical Advisor and medical authorities to ensure prioritized care for the most deserving.
Appreciative concerns and productive measures, taken by the Army in this connection, prompted Ratnapura Gem Businessmen’s Association and Diesel & Motor Engineering Company Ltd (Dimo) to sponsor construction of all the 5 Cottages while MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Insurance, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Seva Vanitha Unit, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps Seva Vanitha Unit, Singer (Pvt) Ltd, Wickremaratne’s (Pvt) Ltd and Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna, separately, came forward to foot the construction cost of all 7 Villas in the Abimansala - 2 complex. Each Cottage cost Rs 4 million and a Villa Rs 5.25 million upon completion. In addition, the swimming pool, vital for therapeutic needs, nearing completion, is estimated to cost Rs 10 million.
The construction project, inaugurated by Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya after laying the first cornerstone on 19 January 2012, was brought to a successful completion in less than ten months by energetic Army Engineers and Engineer Service Regiment with their manpower and professional know-how, amply supported by both state and private sector experts of different spheres.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sustained concern and interest in the welfare of disabled servicemen in the aftermath of the war, continued to be a beacon of hope to all terminally disable 297 dependent War Heroes, scattered across the country, but lack of proper and continuous therapeutic care and more importantly, domestic facilities for them at their homes, posed a major setback to their continuing well-being. The subsequent birth of the MoD-initiated Attidiya ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’, now fully functional with 50 dependent War Heroes as well as the opening of the Anuradhapura Abimansala and now, the new Kamburupitiya ‘Abimansala - 2’, has brought a sigh of relief to all those physically handicapped servicemen who had selflessly sacrificed all their physical organs, legs and limbs to make a better tomorrow for all Sri Lankans.
