20th August 2021 06:37:28 Hours
Construction of more and more houses for physical disabled War Heroes, family members of fallen ones and serving members, initiated on a conceptual notion of the Army Chief as a continuing welfare project of the Army was brought to fruition on Saturday (14) by erecting four more new houses simultaneously for War Heroes and families, resident in the North-Central province with financial grants, made available jointly by the Directorate of Veteran Affairs and respective Regimental Centers.
The auspicious warming and formal inauguration of those four new houses at Samanalapura in Maha Iluppallama, Ichchankulam in Anuradhapura, Sippukulam in Anuradhapura and Medirigiriya in Hingurakgoda took place on Saturday (14) in simple separate ceremonies, graced by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) as the Chief Guest, together with Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Colonels of respective Regiments and a few Senior Officers. Strict health guidelines were closely observed during these events.
At Samanalapura, Maha Iluppallama, the day's Chief Guest symbolically handed over the keys of the new house to the daughter and the widow of late War Hero, Lance Corporal M. M. P. K Wijesuriya of SLSR who laid his life during a search and clear operation at Uyilankulam in Mannar in 1997. Amid religious observances after the daughter received General Shavendra offering a sheaf of betel on arrival at the location, the beneficiaries cut a ribbon and entered the new house with the day's Chief Guest to perform milk-pot boiling rites and rituals. The Army Chief also unveiled a plaque to the effect on the same occasion and had an exchange of views with beneficiaries, the widow and her daughter, Mrs Hansani Sewwandika Wijesuriya. At the same occasion, the day's Chief Guest, together with Mrs Sujeewa Nelson gifted a pack of essentials to the recipient of the new house.
16 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) troops under the close supervision of their Colonel of the Regiment, SLSR and the Commanding Officer, 16 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment using their technical and engineering skills erected the new house at a cost of Rs 1.5 million with funds granted by both Directorate of Veteran Affairs and SLSR Regimental HQ in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Army Chief on the implementation of this welfare project. The Army Chief was warmly welcomed on arrival by Major General Hemantha Bandara, Commander, Security Forces-Wanni and Colonel of the Regiment, SLSR in front of the new house.
Next, proceeded the Army Chief to warm one more new house, built for the wheelchair-ridden disabled War Hero, Sergeant R.V. P Pushpakumara of the Special Forces (SF) at Ichchankulam in Anuradhapura. Major General Harendra Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Forces-Kilinochchi, a senior officer of the SF and Brigadier Nissanka Iriyagama, Center Commandant, Special Forces Regiment welcomed the day's Chief Guest who is also the Colonel of the Regiment, SF in front of the new house of the physically-handicapped War Hero and invited him to join the ceremony.
The day's Chief Guest, General Shavendra Silva amidst 'Seth Pirith', Buddhist rites and rituals then handed over the keys of the new Army-erected home to the beneficiary, Sergeant R. V. P Pushpakumara after cutting a ribbon and unveiling a plaque to that effect. The beneficiary, SF War Hero offering a sheaf of betel received the Army Chief who also gifted some essentials for use in the house at the same occasion in the company of Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President, ASVU.
The handicapped War Hero, Sergeant R .V. P Pushpakumara sustained serious injuries in a sniper shoot while participating in an operation against LTTE terrorists at Puthukudirippu in 2009.The Colonel of the Regiment, SF was instrumental in prioritizing the house construction for him as he is living with his widowed mother in Ichchankulam, Anuradhapura.
Despite setbacks, posed by COVID-19 pandemic, the project was effectively completed due to untiring commitment of the troops of the Regiment Headquarter battalion of the Special Forces Regiment under the close supervision of the Center Commandant, Special Forces Regiment and the Commanding Officer, RHQ Battalion of the Special Forces Regiment.
Senior Officers, General Officers Commanding, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, state officials and family members of all those four families, relatives and troops who contributed to the construction participated in those warming ceremonies, conducted in strict adherence to current health guidelines.
