The newest wellness resort, ‘Abimansala 3’, erected through the ‘Brave Hearts’ project of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit at Pangolla for the lifelong care of 50 more dependent War Heroes, resident in the North-Western Province, was ceremonially inaugurated this afternoon (15) by its conceptual visionary, HE the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest at the invitation of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake who threw his full weight behind the fruition of the project.
Friday’s (25) inauguration of the ‘Abimansala 3’ marked a milestone for the Commander of the Army since it lies in close proximity to his own native place. Consequent upon a warm welcome extended to the President and the Secretary Defence by the Commander of the Army, the day’s agenda got underway.
Inspirational guidance, provided by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development as envisaged in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy document, earlier saw the birth of ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ at Attidiya, ‘Abimansala 1’ at Anuradhapura and ‘Abimansala 2’ at Kamburupitiya which are now effectively functional with more than 150 dependent War Heroes, now under close care receiving recovery and rehabilitation in all those three places.
Construction of the latest state-of-the-art, Pangolla ‘Abimansala 3’ that could now accommodate 50 more identical War Heroes from the North Western Province cost the Sri Lanka Army Rs 250 million, less than what was originally estimated, due to free expertise and labour support, extended by Army Engineers and other well-wishers in different fields.
Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Bank of Ceylon, Diesel and Motor Engineering Company Ltd (DIMO), Mas Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Insurance Company Ltd, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, Wickramarathne (Pvt) Company Ltd, Commercial Bank, Singer Sri Lanka PLC, Abans (Pvt) Ltd, State Mortgage & Inventment Bank, SS Chnam & Company, Security Force Headquarters (Jaffna), Security Force Headquarters (Wanni), Security Force Headquarters (East), Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Sri Lanka Artillery & Seva Vanitha Branch, Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Special Force Regiment, Corps of Engineer Services, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps & Seva Vanitha Branch, Sri Lanka Military Academy, Ranaviru Apparels, Army Dance Committee and Welfare Fund - Army Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, each offering more than Rs 1 million to the worthy cause, stood firmly behind the project as towers of strength, in addition to various other monetary and technical donations received from different well-wishers in the island.
Lying in a 10 - acre serene land mass on the nearby banks of the ‘Deduru Oya’ and overlooking the Bathalagoda lake, a few yards away, the project was brought to a successful completion within a matter of few months owing to unfailing determination, coupled with the visionary approach of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake with the support of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU), presided by Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake and all others in the Army.
In this abode of solace and tranquility, all 50 dependent War Heroes who need 24 hour vigil are well cared and comfortably accommodated for rehabilitation, recuperation, rest and recreation throughout their lifespan. This architecturally unique healing centre also offers facilities to their next of kin to visit the inmates and spend some time with them on rotational basis.
The new 'Abimansala 3’ complex, equipped with 8 Villas, 3 Cottages, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities, shrine room, medical ward, swimming pool, gymnasium, medical laboratory, main hall, ‘Nenasala’ IT training unit, dental unit, emergency medical unit, dining hall, kitchen, indigenous medicine unit, residential quarters for staff, etc, which are not on hand in respective residential areas of those dependent War Heroes, is to be manned round the clock by specially trained medical and professional nursing teams. A Villa in the complex cost Rs 6 million and a Cottage Rs 4.5 million.
The sustained concern and interest of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, HE the President in the welfare of disabled servicemen in the aftermath of the war, continues to be a beacon of hope to all those terminally disable 297 dependent War Heroes, scattered across the country, but lack of proper and much-needed continuous therapeutic care and more importantly, other domestic facilities for them at their own homes, poses a major setback to their continuing well-being and time-consuming recovery process.
The subsequent birth of the Defence Ministry-initiated Attidiya ‘Mihindu Seth Medura', now fully functional with 50 dependent War Heroes as well as the opening of the Anuradhapura ‘Abimansala’, Kamburupitiya ‘Abimansala 2' and now, the new Pangolla ‘Abimansala 3’, has brought a phenomenal might and a sigh of relief plus a boost to all those physically-handicapped servicemen who had selflessly sacrificed all their physical organs, legs and limbs to make a better tomorrow for all Sri Lankans and a society free from the ugly cycle of terrorism.
Friday’s (25) ceremonial inauguration of Pangolla new complex of healing began seconds after the arrival of the Chief Guest, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development and other distinguished invitees.
Unveiling of the ‘Abimansala 3’ main signboard, religious observances, plaque unveiling, opening of the main building, orations of religious leaders, registration of the first admission to the wellness resort, opening of the ‘Nenasala’ IT Centre, visits to the ward complex, the Ayurvedic Centre and cottages / villas dominated the day’s agenda at Pangolla.
The ‘Abimansala 3’ new website was also launched by the day’s Chief Guest at ‘Nenasala’ IT Centre around the same time marking a milestone.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa registered the first entrant to the new rehabilitation centre and marked the formal operation of the third Abimansala. He did not forget to share a couple of thoughts with those War Heroes awaiting admission to the new venue of hope. Impressed with the serene surroundings, the President took an exceptional interest and interacted with some of those invitees present there and saw for himself how hydrotherapy was applied to a dependent War Hero who was to be admitted.
After warm welcomes offered by dependent War Heroes, Commander of the Army and other distinguished invitees, the President, together with the Secretary Defence took time off to have a look at those new Cottages and Villas where those War Heroes are to be housed.
As the Chief Guest was opening the main hall of the complex, all sponsors or their representatives, including Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, simultaneously inaugurated all Villas and Cottages in the complex cutting ceremonial ribbons as the auspicious minute struck.
Clergy of all four denominations, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development, Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa, Chairperson, MoD Seva Vanitha Unit, Minister of Trade Hon Johnstan Fernando, Governor for Wayamba Province, Mr Tissa R Balalla, Chief Minister for Wayamba Mr Dayasiri Jayasekara, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Air Force and his spouse, senior Army officers, Mrs P.B Wettewa, Chairperson, Ranaviru Seva Authority, Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU), members of the ASVU, state officials, invitees and a large gathering attended the inaugural ceremony.
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