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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

SVAB New Year Fair to Provide More Funds for War Heroes Welfare

The ‘Rana Aruna Udanaya’, the New Year fair, organized by the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) with the sole intention of raising funds for multifarious welfare projects, meant largely for disable War Heroes, was opened by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya on Saturday (9) at Panagoda Army School grounds.

The New Year fair that sells almost all essentials, including traditional Sinhala-Hindu New Year sweetmeats at less than half the market price in line with the government’s policy of providing essentials to the public at a reduced rate during the New Year season, is one among many welfare projects, spearheaded annually by the SVAB under the able guidance of its President, Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya.

All saleable essentials at the fair have been collected collectively by all regimental Seva Vanitha Units and the SVAB membership for the benefit of the soldiers.

The New Year Fair, open to both Army personnel and the general public on Saturday (9) and Sunday (10) until late evening, is replete with a number of entertaining events of different nature.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Chief Guest for the occasion at the invitation of Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya visited each and every stall on the site and symbolically bought several items as an incentive to the SVAB project.

The SVAB, actively engaged in a multitude of welfare projects like construction of new houses to disable War Heroes or next of kin of their families, provision of artificial limbs, medical equipment, etc, granting of financial funds for War Hero house constructions, conduct of workshops for education of War Hero families, distribution of school accessories and books, conduct of pre-schools for Ranaviru children, conduct of welfare shops, management of special loan schemes to War Heroes, etc, collects funds for all those worthy causes from local and overseas donors and agencies, philanthropists and through the conduct of musical events, exhibitions, fashion shows, fairs, regimental Seva Vanitha Unit arrangements, etc.

To its credit the SVAB has been playing a leading role towards establishment and construction of the Anuradhapura wellness resort, ‘Abimansala’ project which is to be opened shortly. This unique concept, mooted by the Commander of the Army, is expected to house permanently disable War Heroes for rest and recreation along with members of their families. The SVAB, throwing its full weight behind the successful competition of the ‘Abimansala’ project, has to-date raised a considerable sum of the overall cost of the entire project to which a stream of praises have been made by both soldiers and the general public.

Proceeds of this year’s New Year fair are also to be exclusively used for above mentioned projects after taking priorities of the recipients into consideration. This year’s New Year fair exhibits replicas that represent age old New Year tradition and practises. It has been setup by the Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps.

The popular music band, ‘Seeduwa Sakura’ who has been at the forefront in assisting the SVAB projects, will rend the air with its entertaining melodies on Saturday (9) night.

The popular duo, Bhathiya and Santhush on Sunday (10) night add their elegance to the closing session of the SVAB fair for the year 2011.