14th February 2022 18:17:24 Hours
Award of financial grants under the 7th Phase of the Sri Lanka Army’s House Construction Project for family members of fallen War Heroes, wounded War Heroes, retired and on service Army personnel got underway this morning (14) at the Army Headquarters in order to dish out financial grants to 48 more Army beneficiaries for the exclusive purpose of construction of their own houses or completion of partly-built ones.
General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who personally took an enormous interest in this welfare measure, having added a new expanded dimension to its overall implementation for enhanced benefits graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and gave away those financial grants to build 11 new houses and 37 partly-built homes during the brief ceremony, attended by several senior officers and beneficiaries. Of them, 9 houses were meant for family members of fallen War Heroes and 12 more homes were for War Heroes wounded in action. Similarly, 03 houses were for retired War Heroes while 24 houses were for serving Army personnel.
The project, kicked off as a joint welfare gesture of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs, Directorate of Rehabilitation and respective Regiment of the beneficiary gave away Rs 1.5 m for complete erection of a new house and Rs 750,000 for completion of a partly-built house under this scheme, thanks to the voluntary contribution, being made by All Officers with a monthly salary deduction of Rs 50 for the purpose and Rs 10 by Other Ranks from their salary every month in order to sustain this special ‘Ranaviru Niwasa’ fund of the Army. For a complete house, respective each Regiment would provide Rs 3 lakhs.
The day's Chief Guest, General Shavendra Silva afterwards joined the distribution of those financial grants to the beneficiaries, along with Major General Vikum Liyanage, Chief of Staff. Brigadier Shiron Ekanayake, Director Rehabilitation presented an overview of the project and explained how previous six phases were effectively completed with the blessings of respective Commanders and how the project has now reached new multiplied heights under the able command of General Shavendra Silva. A brief video presentation summed up the progress of the housing project and how it would continue in future.
To-date, financial grants have been made available for 244 fully-funded new houses and 24 half-funded houses under all seven phases of the project. Few Senior Officers including Chief of Staff, Major General Vikum Liyanage participated in the distribution ceremony that was held adhering to health guidelines.
