'A fitting Symbol of a Nation's Gratitude' ; Message from Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

The opening of the new state of art military hospital in Narahenpita today by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa is another landmark in the continuing saga of updating facilities for war heroes who emancipated our people from the clutches of terrorism. Therefore I take great pleasure in contributing this message to the Daily News supplement being issued to mark the occasion.

The Narahenpita 2024 bed military hospital is a hospital complex and is much more than a mere treatment facility for military personnel in that context. It was built to exacting specifications to meet the medical needs of military personnel and their family members, and is part of an ongoing story of a deep commitment to meet the needs of servicemen and women in a way that most nations, even those much larger and powerful than us, have not been able to after having being embroiled in protracted conflict.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder victims for instance and others suffering from conflict related maladies are a subject of much attention in the global media, in heartening stories about the large number of suicides, in certain countries, of those who fought in places far away from their homes for various national causes.

The Sri Lankan reality with regard to war heroes has been markedly different by contrast, from even before the last man laid down his weapons when the fighting ended.

The armed forces personnel have not been considered as men and women on the public payroll who as normal public servants would be at retirement considered for state pensions and other benefits reserved for government employes.

Soldiers could have been treated this way as it seems to be done in countries that consider military service on par with contributions to any other part of the labour force.

The military hospital complex being opened today in Narahenpita is proof that Sri Lanka's defence establishment under the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief has moved as far away as possible from this practice of relegating heroes to the limbo of an ordinary public service retirement.

Be they in active service or be they retired military personnel, servicemen have been looked after in a way that is commensurate with their heroic contribution to the recent emancipation of this nation.

The military hospital complex being opened today is but one part of a coordinated plan to vest in the armed forces facilities that would make them feel that they have true ownership of the peace they fought for at the sacrifice of life and limb. This state of art complex is for the military by military personnel as its construction was conceptualised and followed through with input in the main from the Engineering Services Regiment (ESR).

It now provides health care facilities not just for army personal only but also their family members and is, as with the school established for children of military personnel in the heart of Colombo, a fitting symbol of a nation's gratitude.

Particularly in this month of May in which we remember the warriors of combat more than in any other, as it was in May five years ago that the forces were able to free this country from the shackles of terrorism, people from all walks of life will pay their individual tribute to the work done by the gallants who fought the war against terrorism to a finish.

There isn't a day that passes in this month in which there is no special program that looks into the needs of military personnel and their families and from projects such as Rana Viru Super Star to the work undertaken by the Army Seva Vanitha units, each endeavour marks a special link that forms a chain of efforts that speaks for the immense fount of goodwill that animates the nation's gratitude towards servicemen and their kith and kin.

Perhaps even by this yardstick of being unstinted in our goal of providing for servicemen and their every need, the military hospital project being vested in the armed forces today occupies a special place.

Arogya Paramang Laba - the greatest wealth is health, preached the Buddha. This project provides forces personnel with the security and peace of mind necessary to contribute to the national effort and be in combat readiness for any eventuality.

Over a billion rupees was budgeted for this considerable endeavour as it provides in the long term the most cherished of all facilities that servicemen and their families would be able to enjoy which is round the clock health care that will enable them to be secure in the thought that no stone will be left unturned in a quest to keep them and theirs fit, healthy and happy.

On this day in which this military hospital complex is being dedicated after the first step was taken towards bringing this vision to fruition in 2009 when the foundation stone was laid for this building, I have great pleasure in wishing all forces personnel who were tied to this venture every success, as they give themselves from today to the task of making this facility what it would be in the future -- a hospital complex that represents the zenith that can be achieved in terms of medical excellence.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.