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Sri Lanka Army

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Tri-Service War Heroes Get 94 More 'Api Wenuwen Api' New Houses in Ratnapura District


Ninety-four new houses, erected in the Ratnapura District under the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ project as a tribute to the War Heroes of the Army, Navy and Air Force, were vested in the recipients on Saturday (2) during a grand ceremony at Ratnapura, Uduwatta Mihindu Maha Vidyalaya esplanade, headed by HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  

‘Api Wenuwen Api’ housing project, initiated by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development has been engaged in constructing new houses for service personnel in various districts with the noble intention of providing them with decent housing since many War Heroes who were fully committed to the defence of the motherland some years ago have hardly had space earlier to prioritize their personal requirements, like house building, etc.  

At Ratnapura, President Rajapaksa handed over the new house at Thoranagoda, Beruwana, Udagedarawatta, Eheliyagoda to Lance Corporal W.G.S Weerasekara of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) symbolizing the warming of all the new houses around the same time elsewhere in the district.  

57 Army personnel including several wheelchair-borne and disable War Heroes out of a total of 94 recipients accepted the keys at different locations around the same time. Remaining 37 houses were divided among War Heroes of the Navy and Air Force.     

President Rajapaksa unveiled a plaque of the new house at Udagedarawatta, cut the ceremonial ribbon and warmed the house lighting the traditional lamp as members of the Maha Sangha began reciting Pirith invoking blessings. The recipient of the house after receiving the keys with his family members boiled the auspicious milk pot and shared traditional sweetmeats later on with the Commander-in-Chief the Armed Forces who warmed his new abode, constructed by Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

During the main ceremony at Uduwatta Mihindu Maha Vidyalaya esplanade afterwards President Rajapaksa gave away a large stock of gift parcels among house recipients, spouses and children.

Members of the Maha Sangha, Clergy, Secretary to President Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Governors, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Chief Ministers, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders, Tri-service Officers, senior Police officers, Provincial Councillors and a large gathering of invitees and the public attended the ceremony.   



Photo Courtesy: MoD