Published on - 3/2/2004
Humanitarian assistance recognizes no boundaries, colour or creed, nor does a legitimate army approve any discrimination when it concerns well-being of any segment of the people for whom security is provided at state expense. The Sri Lanka Army, to be in consistent with this policy of goodwill, does extend its helping-hand at all times wherever they chose to serve. Eleven physically disabled civilians, most of who are impoverished and resident in Point Pedro and its suburbs, were this time fortunate to receive wheelchairs, donated by the Army at a simple ceremony, held at the Wallipuram Kovil premises on Friday (27).
This single-handed initiative, undertaken by Colonel K.S. Rathnayake, Commander 524 Brigade, who received this stock of wheel-chairs as a private donation to him from a well-wisher, was further encouraged by Brigadier G. A. Chandrasiri, Commander 52 Division in view of its meritorious nature of the action. On the recommendations of Mr. S Sivasamy, Divisional Secretary, Point Pedro, 05 handicapped students of Inuvil Madhya Maha Vidyalaya and 06 disable civilians in Vadamarachchi area were chosen as recipients to receive these wheelchairs.
During his address at the ceremony, Colonel K.S. Rathnayake, who said that this was only the first phase of a project, designed to distribute more and more wheelchairs for the needy disabled in the area. He further explained efforts taken so far by the Army to help uplift the living standards of civilians in the area after peace returned under the ceasefire agreement.
These eleven civilians gleefully but with thousands of thanks humbly received these donations amidst a gathering of their next of kin and wel-wishers.
The government\'s Welfare Officer for the area, Mr. N.N. Rajalingam, Grama Seva Niladhari, T. Nanda Kumar, Commanding Officer, 6th Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Major P. Dematampitiya, Major H.M.S Priyantha of the 2nd Gemunu Watch and a large gathering of civil and Army personnel were associated with the occasion.
