ASVU-Initiated New ‘Viru Sisu Pradeepa’ Scholarships Offered to 91 Children of War Heroes

The novel ‘Viru Sisu Pradeepa’ scholarship awarding programme, exclusively initiated by the Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) presented financial scholarships, each worth Rs 25,000/= to 91 sons and daughters of Army War Heros’ families on Monday (22), in an attempt to encourage and stimulate those students for higher studies.

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army at the invitation of Mrs Janaki Liyanage, President, ASVU graced the awarding ceremony at the Army Headquarters as the Chief Guest. Among the recipients are sons and daughters of fallen War Heroes and injured War Heroes who fought for territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country before May 2009.

The project, coordinated and sponsored jointly by the National Defence Fund and the DFCC Bank accordingly deposited Rs 25,000/= in favour of each student who did well in Grade 5 scholarship examination as a savings account through which monthly dividends are paid to the beneficiaries.

The brief ceremony, attended by a restricted number of 25 beneficiaries due to health concerns, got to a start after lighting the traditional oil lamp, recital of the ASVU theme song and observance of two-minute silence in memory of fallen War Heroes. Two scholarship recipients offering sheaves of betel welcomed the day’s Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage and the ASVU President, Mrs Janaki Liyanage on arrival at the location.

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage in a brief address to the occasion conveying his congratulations to the beneficiaries, urged them to study well and become patriotic citizens of the country since it will be an honour to their fallen fathers and wounded ones. After a while, the day’s Chief Guest took time off and interacted with those scholarship recipients, sharing a couple of thoughts and pleasantries.

Major General Channa Weerasoriya, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Swarna Bothota, Military Secretary, Major General Chandana Wickramasingha, Adjutant General, Brigadier Rohan Rajapaksha, Director Welfare, Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks were associated with the day’s programme.