Troops Put Up New House for Octogenarian & Her Daughter

Sensitive to a pathetic plight of an octogenarian living in a shelter with her 55-year old unmarried daughter whose story was highlighted in a recent Sinhala daily, the Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E), together with 17 (V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry troops of the 23 Division Headquarters offered their labour to put up a new house for them at Welikanda area, following the sponsorship, extended by a gem merchant in Eheliyagoda.

Soon after the media report, the SFHQ-E made inquiries into the status quo and sought the labour assistance of the 23 Division troops for construction before initiatives of Major General K.M.U Wijeratne, Commander, Security Forces - East found a sponsor from Eheliyagoda.

Mr Sanath Premarathne, the donor spent Rs 1.3 m for raw materials and the troops happily donated their labour for the construction within a few months.

On Wednesday (14), both Major General K.M.U Wijeratne and Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, General Officer Commanding, 23 Division as pioneers of the project were at the location to formally hand over the new house during a brief ceremony.

The recipient, Mrs D.R Somawathi (81), a widow with her daughter spoke high of the Army troops and their enthusiasm on their behalf and profusely thanked the donor and everyone contributed to it.

Major General K.M.U Wijeratne, Commander, SF-E, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, General Officer Commanding, 23 Division, Mr Sanath Premarathne, the donor and several senior officers were associated with the event.