Army Swimmers Shine in Open Swimming Competition , TWO COURTS MARTIAL APPOINTED TO HEAR CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA , Kachchativu St. Anthony Feast Draws Thousands , Over 7200 Jaffna Youth Join Marathon Organized by Jaffna Security Forces , “Rata Wenuwen Api” Donates Money to Buy Knitting Machine at Ranaviru Sevana, Differently Able War Heroes Show Their Talents, Defence University Invites Vibrant Youth , “New Era for Jaffna has Set in” Says Commander , Jaffna Civil-Military Relations To Reach Record High, Jaffna Commander & Education Authorities Visit Schools , Troops Support Community Work , Bank Staff, Thoughtful of War Heroes Give Walking Aids to Military Hospital , GW War Hero to Receive New House , Teachers & Parents Join Kids to Hold Sports Meet, SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE COMPLETED & HANDED OVER TO ARMY COMMANDER , Search Operations Uncover More LTTE Arms & Ammo, MEDIA REPORTS CREATE CONFUSION & MISUNDERSTANDING , Old Anandians Donate Rs. 1,750,000 for War Heroes , “NO MEDICAL EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL PENETRATION;” JMOs CERTIFY & DETERMINE CAUSE FOR TAMIL CIVILIAN’S DEATH , Rana Aruna Udanaya – 2010 New Year Fair Ready, Bright Prospects for Defence Students at KDU, Volunteers Welcome Their New Commandant , SLASC Emerges Champions in Army Inter-Regimental Rugger Tournament , Wilpattu Blossoms Again After Sri Lanka Army Engineers Cleared LTTE Mines , Mannar Development Projects in Full Swing , Army Swimmers Perform Well in Swimming Tournament , Pooneryn New Police Station Opened , Army Provides Assistance to Naga Deepa Pilgrims , Ruwanweli Seya Dolos Mahe Piritha Ends with Offer of Alms to Maha Sangha , Army Engineers Save Millions & Restore Sri Pada Raja Mawatha ,
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Last 20 News Highlights
* More LTTE Arms & Ammunition Uncovered

* Army Engineers Save Millions & Restore Sri Pada Raja Mawatha

* ALL SIX SOLDIERS REMANDED OVER ALLEGED ABUSE CHARGES

* Nuptial Bliss Gifts Blind War Hero with Both Bride & New House

* President Hands Over Three-Wheelers to War Heroes

* War Hero Families in Gampaha Honoured

* Army Patriotism Sees No Bounds; Turns Prime Mover in Development

* Commander Commends Army Performance in South Asian Games

* Army to Accommodate Class Rooms in Former IDP Centre

* NO FORMER COMMANDERS APPOINTED FOR SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE

* Major General Prasad Samarasinghe, New SLAMC Colonel Commandant

* 38 Anti Personnel Mines & Improvised Explosive Device Unearthed

* Project ‘Brave Hearts’ for ‘Wellness Resort’ to be Launched Shortly

* Now They Reap What They Sowed in Jaffna after Some 20 Years

* Commander Pays his Maiden Visits to Eastern Brigades & Extols Sacrifices

* T-55 Tanks Abandoned by Army Uncovered

* COMMANDER RESPONDS TO MRS FONSEKA’S REQUEST FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO GENERAL FONSEKA

* Mother Unit Salutes Major General Samarasinghe

* SRI LANKA MILITARY POLICE REFUTE ALLEGATIONS OF HARASSMENT

* One Hundred & Eight APMs Among Recoveries

 
  Sri Lanka Army :: Welfare & Rehabilitation

The Soldiers serving in operational areas in the furthest and remote locations, unlike the members of any other organization, due to the nature of their duties, risk their own lives to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. They have to be separated from their loved ones and continue to live under severe tension and stress for prolonged periods. Therefore, they have to either forego or completely sacrifice the normal or even the basic privileges, in the least, enjoyed by employees of other establishments. Besides being compelled to live away from their families, they also have to live under extreme tension in trying conditions. Therefore, it is with the view to providing better living condition and to boost the morale of the soldiers, the Directorate of Welfare was established on 23rd May 1989. The main aim of the Directorate is to coordinate and promote welfare activities of the Officers and Other Ranks, as approved by the Commander of the Army. An Additional Directorate of Welfare was subsequently established to tackle welfare activities pertaining to the soldiers who are killed-in-action, missing-in-action and wounded-in-action and their families.

Profile & The History Of The Directorate Of Welfare

The Directorate of Welfare is the central body for the welfare activities of the Army in its diversified fields and is the biggest institution that generates funds, which are re-cycled for the welfare of the troops. Whilst 75% of the profits are used for this purpose, the balance 25% is credited to the Welfare Fund of the Commander of the Army which is utilized on projects decided by the Commander. The Director is the chief executive and the custodian of the funds invested by the Officers and soldiers, and a Board of Management makes all policy decisions. This board consists of the Deputy Chief of Staff as the Chairman and the Director Welfare, the Director Budget and Finance, and the Commanding Officer Headquarters Battalion as members by virtue of their appointments.

The Welfare Directorate was established with a capital of Rupees 1.5 Million contributed by way of shares of Rs: 500/= each by Officers and Other Ranks. Though the fund was initially identified as the 'Welfare Fund' it was later renamed as 'Welfare Society Fund' in the year 1998 in order to avoid confusion as there were more funds with similar names.

Agency Post Office at Army Headquarters Complex

Since there was a requirement to open a post office in the Army Headquarters complex to cater to well over 2000 Army personnel employed within the complex, the Directorate of Welfare established an Agency Post Office at the Army Headquarters complex on 10th Oct 1989. This project is not only providing a great service to all concerned but also is generating quite a good margin of profit to the Welfare Society fund.

Supply of Newspapers

Provision of newspapers daily for reading pleasure of the troops deployed in operational areas is another facility offered by the Directorate.

Distribution of Sweets, Delicacies etc

Sweets and delicacies are distributed to troops deployed in operational areas during festive seasons by this Directorate.

Donations and Welfare Items

Receipt of donations made by philanthropists, organisations, well wishers, etc, to the Army and distribution of such donations to the Military or Medical establishments as appropriate are tasks carried out by the Directorate of Welfare.

Scholarships for Undergraduates

A fund has been formed to grant financial assistance to undergraduates who are children of Army personnel. The fund was formed with the contribution of one day's salary made by the Army personnel and with the one-cent profit made from the sale of cigarettes. The fund that commenced with an amount of Rs. 1.5 million initially has now risen to a total of Rs. 9 million.

Additional Welfare Projects

Directorate of Additional Welfare in the Army is one of the major establishments that extends all possible assistance to family members of the soldiers who died in action and went missing during the warfare. Children, wives, parents or the immediate next of kin of those War Heroes are among the prime scope of a number of welfare projects being launched by this Directorate.

Construction of houses for those Ranaviru families is the leading project now in progress. To-date 24 Ranaviru Villages have been established in several districts and many Ranaviru families have already been settled.


Ranaviru Housing Projects District
Wathupitiwala
Pangolla
New Chatal Watta
Keragala
Udupila
Koptyawatta
Thalgaswala
Wellawaya
Millaniya
Providence Watta
Wariyapola
Kuruvita
Lunugamwehera
Mirijjavila
Rambewa
Ampara
Horana – Govinna
Kosgama – Salawa
Lunama – Ambalantota
Galnewa – Ottapahuwa
Elahera – Diyabeduma
Kekirawa
Haliela
Kuliyapitiya
Gampaha
Kurunegala
Kalutara
Gampaha
Gampaha
Kalutara
Galle
Monaragala
Kalutara
Galle
Kurunegala
Ratnapura
Hambanthota
Hambanthota
Anuradhapura
Ampara
Kalutara
Colombo
Hambanthota
Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa
Anuradhapura
Badulla
Kurunegala

Out of a total number of 1055 recipients of those houses, 326 families are from those War Heroes who were Killed In Action (KIA) and other 729 are for those soldiers Wounded In Action (WIA).

In addition to the state assistance, various other private institutions financed those housing schemes. Following leading businessmen, senior citizens and private institutions have contributed largely in providing shelter to the Ranaviru families in respective districts.

1. Mr. Janaka Bogollagama
2. Guruge Property Sales
3. Mrs Hema Premadasa
4. Bodyline Garment
5. Slim Line Garment

Blocks of lands received from various government establishments were also distributed among several families in the following manner.

ESTABLISHMENT NUMBER OF BLOCKS
1. Land Reform Commission 424
2. Mahaweli Authority 516
3. Divisional Secretariats 74

A total of 501 families of the soldiers killed in action and 513 wounded in action were the recipients of these lands.

Other welfare projects include;
a. Issue of ID cards to WIA and also to NOK s of KIA personnel
b. Issue of free transportation passes (Bus/Railway) to the WIA
c. Assisting NOKs/relatives to find job opportunities.
d. Scholarships for those children/relatives of the KIA & WIA families

ONGOING PROJECTS
a. Construction of 25 houses at Kekirawa Ranaviru Village (Stage II)
b. Construction of houses in another land donated by a philanthropist.

Conclusion

Welfare is an important function to boost the morale of the soldiers both serving and retired. Embarking on efficient and effective welfare schemes will have a direct impact on recruitment and retention of all ranks .

Latest on Video

Sri Lanka Army in fact made history on Tuesday (9), as the cream of Jaffna society including Jaffna Bishop, Chief Hindu and Buddhist Priests, High Court Judges, District and Divisional Secretaries, Vice Chancellor at Jaffna University, Mayor and Provincial Councillors, Senior Administrators and a host of other religious and civil dignitaries assembled under one roof to join Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya in opening this first-ever twenty-four seven open Civil Affairs and Public Relations Office, giving pride of place to Hindu religious rites and rituals.

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