Commander Responds to DS Request & Gets His Troops to Build New House for Widow

Troops of the 122 Brigade under the 12 Division of the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) in response to a humanitarian request offered their expertise and labour assistance for construction of a new house for a widow with three girls and a boy in the general area of Hondawelpokuna, Bellagaswewa in Hambantota District Secretariat (DS) area. 

Samurdhi section in the Hambantota District Secretariat in a letter referred to the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva sought the Commander’s assistance for construction of this new house to the widow who has been living in an unsafe shelter with four of her children after her husband died some time ago. 

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva promptly responded and instructed Major General G.R.H Dias, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division accordingly who in turn got the things organized. 

After the District Secretariat assured the supply of raw materials at their cost for the said construction, the 12 Division Headquarters at Hambantota undertook the responsibility of erecting the new house with the active participation of 10 (Volunteer) Corps of Engineer Service (CES) and 10 (Volunteer) Gemunu Watch (GW) troops of the 12 Division. 

Following the speedy action of the troops, the new house was completed by the troops within a few weeks to the satisfaction of the beneficiary and the District Secretariat. 

On International Women’s Day (March 8), a ceremony at the construction site saw the keys to the new house delivered at the auspicious minute to the beneficiary, Mrs Y. Inoka Damayanthi and her children by Ms S.L.M.K Serasinghe, Assistant Secretary to Hambantota District Secretariat and Colonel K.H.K Kottawatte, Brigade Commander, 122 Brigade. 

On the day of the opening, both Ms S.L.M.K Serasinghe, Assistant Secretary and Colonel K.H.K Kottawatte, Brigade Commander, 122 Brigade gave away gift parcels to the beneficiary during the ceremony. 

Brigade Commander also planted a tree sapling in the compound as a token of memory of the house warming.