Jaffna Students Flown to Weerawila to Attend Children's Day Programmes

An initiative taken by 7 Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (7 SLAWC) serving the Security Force Headquarters-Jaffna, provided a group of Jaffna students with the rare chance of celebrating the International Children’s Day, hand in hand with fellow-students in the South.
 
Those students, invited to participate in the state-organized Children’s Day ceremony at Ranminitenna Tele village in Hambantota in the deep south, had a surprise when they were airlifted from Ratmalana to Weerawila, free of charge after they arrived in Colombo two days ago for the express purpose of interacting with their southern counterparts.            
 
The trip, organized in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) included travel by air, visits to the Parliament and the SLRC by those Northern students.
 
Fifteen boys and five girls from Vasavilan Central College, Point Pedro Hartley College, Ilavalai St. Henry College, Kokkuvil Hindu College, Nelliady Central College, Jaffna Hindu College and Jaffna Central College, together with five teachers, were first taken to Colombo by road on 29 Sept by the Commanding Officer 7 SLAWC Major Chandrika Rajaguru.
 
The officer who stayed right throughout with the children and the teachers was assisted by 2nd Lieutenant N. Narenthra of 20th National Cadet Corps Headquarters, Jaffna.
 
Jaffna boys and girls were thus offered a chance to mix with their Southern counterparts during the national ceremony organized at Ranminithenna Tele village.
 
The visiting students also presented a traditional cultural dance of the Northern Province in the presence of the First Lady Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaksa who was the Chief Guest at Ranminitenna with a distinguished gathering.
 
After completion of the itinerary, two special Y 12 flights airlifted them directly from Weerawila to Palaly where their parents and friends, had gathered to receive them at the airport.
 
Meanwhile, 7 SLAWC organized another programme for over 100 students, teachers and parents at KKS. Those children from KKS enjoyed visiting the KKS Lighthouse and Thalsevana Holiday Resort. Special programmes including music and funny games entertained them and they were also served delicious meals at Thalsevana and the 7 SLAWC Headquarters.
 
Each and every child participant was given a symbolic gift and in the evening, they went to Palaly airport to receive their friends who attended the Ranminithenna World Children’s Day programme.