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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Inspirational 'Suwa Sahana' Loan Project &;amp; Launch of New Welfare Coach Fleet Inaugurated by its Visionary Architect


Providing an inspiration to All Ranks and family members of fallen and disable War Heroes, the visionary insight, proposed by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, no sooner than he assumed office in August last year, saw its fruition on Thursday (19) with award of home-made loans under the brand new, ‘Suwa Sahana’ welfare project to a representative gathering of 100 Army personnel, including family members.

The loan scheme to be sustained jointly by the Army Directorate of Welfare and the Army Directorate of Pay and Records at Army Headquarters, Colombo disbursed a sum of Rs 100 million among beneficiaries  under the Phase 1 of the project during Thursday’s ceremony, headed by  the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake as the Chief Guest.

The distribution of the first fleet of nine ‘Suwa Sahana’ new luxurious coaches for economical travel and tour of all ranks on subsidized rates by the Commander to respective Centre Commandants and island-wide Army Welfare outlets also, took place on the same occasion, setting out a one more exceptionally-worth welfare measure, hitherto unheard in the Army history.

Centre Commandants of the Gemunu Watch (GW) Regiment, Engineer Service Regiment (ESR), Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment (SLA), Commando Regiment (CR) as well as those in charge of Army Welfare outlets in Anuradhapura, Colombo, Diyatalawa, Kandy and Boossa, took charge of those new coaches under the Phase 1 of the project who would afterwards make those coaches available to all ranks for their private needs on subsidized rates.

Thursday’s ceremony, graced by the visionary Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake as the Chief Guest, flanked by many other senior officers, including Major General Prasad Samarasinghe, Chief of Staff, Major General Mahinda Ambanpola,  Deputy Chief of Staff and Major General Mahinda Haturusinghe, Adjutant General, Directors for Directorate of Welfare and Director for Pay and Records, marked a new milestone as regards welfare initiatives, meant for all ranks since those loans are paid out against a very low interest rate (12% per annum) with the minimum number of documents. Loans as high as Rs 30 lakhs per head are paid out under this scheme, subjected to the classification of the category applied for.

Lieutenant General Ratnayake, well convinced of the pressing needs of the officers and all ranks, inclusive of family members, has implemented a series of new welfare approaches since the Day 1 he came to office, assessing and re-designing the entire gamut of welfare measures that have hitherto existed in the Army.

From today onwards, all Army personnel who by virtue of their enlistment to the Army continue to set apart  a welfare percentage from their salaries,  are eligible to apply for those newly-inducted  Property Loans, Vehicle Loans,  Loans to recover Debts and Personal Loans at 12% interest rate per annum.