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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

06th July 2016 03:57:07 Hours

Autism Management Programme Unit Established at 'Senehasa'

The Senehasa Education Resource Research and Information Centre (SERRIC) at Manning Town, Narahenpita where autistic children with special needs of military, Police and some civil families are trained, received a new wing for management of autism on Thursday (30) inside the premises.

The inauguration of the new National Autism Management Programme Unit at the SERRIC, a long-felt need of the centre took place during a ceremony where Hon. Ruwan Wijayawardene, State Minister of  Defence as the chief guest at the invitation of  Mrs Anoma Fonseka, Chairperson, Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) who has now taken over the management of the SERRIC.

It was the Army, considering the numbers of autistic children in military families which founded the SERRIC several years ago and has been managing until the latter part of the previous year. Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army afterwards in response to a mutual understanding that was made, requested the RSA to accept the management.

Inmates at SERRIC offering sheaves of betel received the guests at the entrance to the premises before Mrs Anoma Fonseka formally welcomed the day’s chief guest and the Commander of the Army upon their arrival for the opening of this unit.

The simple ceremony was coloured by several aesthetic features, presented by those receiving education and care during daytime throughout the year.

Mr Upul Alwis, Senior Assistant Secretary, State Ministry of Defence, Major General Milinda Peiris, Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General, Army Medical Services, Major General N Udawaththe, Adjutant General in the Army, teachers, matrons, administrative officers, and other ranks serving the centre were present during the ceremony.