13th February 2022 17:51:58 Hours
As the stepped-up house construction project for deserving families of fallen War Heroes and seriously wounded ones is enthusiastically on across the country to be in parallel with the 'Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025' of the Army as conceptualized by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, one more new home, erected at 'Ranaviru Gama' in Pangolla near Ibbagamuwa jointly through the funds of the Commander's Army Housing Project allocation in the Directorate of Veterans Affairs and the Gajaba Regiment Regimental HQ funds was vested in the family of an amputated War Hero this morning (13).
None other than the Colonel of the Regiment, Gajaba Regiment, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, graced the inaugural warming ceremony as the Chief Guest and vested the new house, valued at about Rs 1.5 million with the beneficiary who was seriously wounded in action in 1990 in Trincomalee, and lost his right leg above the knee. The beneficiary is a father of two girls and a boy.
The differently able Keterian after severe injuries were medically boarded out but was without a proper home that matches with special needs, required for a physically-handicapped War Hero until the Gajaba Regiment (GR) Regimental Centre finally decided to erect this new house for him and family. 7 (v) Gajaba Regiment troops with Regimental funds constructed the house using their technical and engineering skills and the GR Regimental HQ took steps to fully furnish the new house at its cost.
This morning's brief warming ceremony got underway soon after the day's Chief Guest, General Shavendra Silva arrived at the location to be received by the beneficiary and his family members offering sheaves of betel. A brief religious blessing by way of 'Seth Pirith' chanted by the members of the Maha Sangha invoked blessings on the new home and the occasion as the day's Chief Guest after cutting a ribbon and marked its symbolic warming. Lighting of the traditional oil lamp ritual followed thereafter.
General Shavendra Silva after sharing a couple of views with beneficiaries awarded them some gift parcels that contained household items and essentials. Likewise, the Army Chief took time off to share a couple of views with relatives and well-wishers of the wounded War Hero who were eargerly awaiting his arrival in the compound.
Colonel Shirantha Millagala, Centre Commandant RHQ GR and the Commanding Officer 7 (v) GR supervised the troops until the completion of the construction.
Few senior Officers, including Colonel Faumie Kitchilan, 143 Brigade Commander and Lt Colonel Bennet Fonseka, Officer in charge of the project attended the house-warming ceremony.
