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Second Wellness Resort, 'Abimansala-2' Project for Southern Dependent War Heroes Launched with Overwhelming Public Support

Three separate auspicious timings for three phases of the inaugural ground-breaking and foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Army’s second wellness resort, ‘Abimansala’ for dependent War Heroes, kicked off the project’s formal launch at the southern village of Wilpitawatta, Udumulla Thursday (19) morning, amidst religious blessings and heartening gestures of goodwill and thoughtfulness.

The proposed state of the art complex for lifetime rest and relaxation of 48 more South-based dependent War Heroes with much-needed physical and medical therapeutic needs, is the brainchild of Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army who succeeded in completing the pioneer project, ‘Abimansala-1’ at Anuradhapura to serve the same purpose.

Thursday’s (19) ground-breaking ceremony, headed by Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, together with Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) whose organization has thrown its full weight behind realization of the vision and the mission of this second project too, occurred under three initial phases; thread laying, first sod-cutting and the foundation-stone laying.

Roadside decorations, national flags and banners, put up by enthusiastic Wilpitawatta area villagers on their own in support of the new War Hero project overwhelmingly, signified the welcome fillip, extended to it and their sense of belongingness to the noble conceptual vision.

Invited sponsors or their representatives, pledged to bear the cost for 7 Villas and 5 Cottages in the complex, including Mas Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Insurance, Singer (Pvt) Ltd, David Wickramarathna Company (Pvt) Ltd, Commercial Bank, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Seva Vanitha Unit, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps Seva Vanitha Unit, Guruge Menik, Vinil Menik, Association for Gem Traders and Dilmah (Pvt) Ltd, took part in the ceremony, placing cornerstones for each sponsoring unit simultaneously as the auspicious second struck with the Commander’s first sod cutting and foundation laying.

As members of the Maha Sangha commenced Seth Pirith chanting immediately after ancient rites and rituals were performed, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya laid the foundation stones for construction of the main building. Rest of the invitees, sponsors and members of the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) followed suit as specified.     

The proposed Wilpitawatta ‘Abimansala-2’ is to provide those War Heroes with Therapeutic Aids, 7 Villas, 5 Cottages, Ward Complex for 20 inmates, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Physiotherapy Unit, Medical Wing, Medical Laboratory, Library, Indoor Stadium, Entertainment Hall, Dining Hall, Auditorium, Kitchen, Herbal Treatment (Ayurveda) Centre and a few more essential wings upon completion of the entire project.  

The estimated cost for its swimming pool is Rs 15.5 million and the entire project is to see its fruition within a period of one year with active support received from the Corps of Engineer Services (CES) and different experts in relevant fields.

The new ‘Abimansala-2’ project, estimated to cost around Rs 240 million lies in a 10-acre serene natural environment with rich bio-diversity and waterways, bordering ‘Haliela Wewa’, and was donated by Land Reforms Commission in response to a request, extended by the Commander of the Army with the blessings of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

28 disable soldiers, but still able to move about on wheelchairs are to be housed in seven Villas, four in each Villa basis while the remainder of 20 more totally dependent War Heroes who need the medical attention round the clock are to be accommodated in a state of the art ward, to be built as per medical expertise advice. Screening and medical categorization of those disable War Heroes were done by the Medical Advisor in the Army, considering gravity of their disability, the Commander said so on Tuesday (17).

The SVAB spearheaded ‘Brave Hearts’ project will find funds for the southern one too as it successfully did in the pioneering Anuradhapura ‘Abimansala’ instance in the year 2011, now fully functional.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army on arrival at the site was welcomed by Major General S.R Manawadu, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, South and was conducted in a procession, together with his spouse, Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya. A brief visual presentation elaborated the proposed complex.     

At the same venue, Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, on seeing a lady holding a baby with one arm at the venue, made inquiries into her disability and assured her Seva Vanitha Army Branch’s support for the purchase of an artificial arm to her. Surprisingly, it was later found that this lady sans one hand herself, impressed with this project for War Heroes had donated ¾ acre of her own land to the ‘Abimansala-2’ project complex.  

A large gathering of invitees, donors, war heroes, SVAB officials, senior Army officers, district and divisional secretaries, state officials and members of the public attended the inaugural ground-breaking and stone-laying ceremony.