Commander's Surprise Visit to 'Abimansala 2' in Ruhunupura Inspires Dependant Inmates

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army in less than six months of its opening, paid a visit to the ‘Abimansala 2’ (Wellness Resort) at Wilpitawatta, Kamburupitiya Saturday (26) morning with the objective of receiving a first-hand account on the conduct of its day-to-day affairs, related to some 52 disable southern War Heroes, resident there.

The Commander’s surprise visit to the Wellness Resort which is one of the Commander’s most fondly-treasured welfare projects is a manifestation of the high degree of concern and significance the Commander attaches to the well-being of these dependent War Heroes, some of who sustained those injuries while Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya was serving the Wanni as the Commander, Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni before the culmination of the war in May 2009.

During the Commander’s stay at the ‘Abimansala 2’ this morning (26), he spoke to the Centre Commandant, Section Heads, members of the military and the civil staff all the inmates and wanted to find out areas that need further improvement and attention.

Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) also associated with the Commander’s visit gave away some gift parcels to the inmates. As a token of goodwill and fellowship, both the Commander and his spouse shared lunch with the inmates at the same occasion.

The Commander, who interacted closely with a few of the inmates who fought with him in the Wanni battlefront, was told that they are now well-cared and made comfortable, providing them with an eternal sense of tranquility and hopefulness, thanks to unique and unmatched Army arrangements. They also shared their sentiments on a recent tour they made to Kataragama as a part of their routine programmes.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, touched by the nature of disability of these valiant men instructed the authorities to ensure their assistants attending on them, too are given the best of facilities since they (mostly civil members) are the first segment on hand in case of any need.

Magnanimity and warmth with which the Commander shared his views reminded how the Commander himself was a victim in the Wanni operations at Olumadu where he narrowly survived a LTTE blast with serious injuries, forcing him to remain unconscious at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for more than two weeks.

Towards the end of his day’s inspection tour to the site, the Commander highlighted the importance of maintaining qualitative standards in all spheres as the Wellness Resort itself is an exceptional notion in the whole of Asia, if not the world.

As distinctly articulate in the 'Mahinda Chintanaya' policy document, 'Abimansala 2', the visionary concept of the President, was made to become a reality, thanks to able and sustained guidance of Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development and the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya who tirelessly brought the project to fruition with the unswerving support of the thematic 'Brave Hearts' fund-raiser, spearheaded largely by the ladies of the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) chaired by Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya.

The complex consists of villas, cottages, wards, Ayurvedic treatment centre, library, swimming pool, recreation centre and a few more structures. A total of about 300 Sri Lanka Army War Heroes during the fight against terrorism suffered lifetime disability, prompting the State to respond to their vital requirements in the healing and therapeutic process. As a result, the birth of Defence Ministry-initiated Attidiya 'Mihindu Seth Medura', Anuradhapura 'Abimansala 1' and the Kamburupitiya ‘Abimansala 2’ occurred, housing a few more than 100 dependent War Heroes in the recent past.