HE the President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chief Guest had the privilege of formally handing over the keys of the new luxurious house to the winner in the 'Ranaviru Real Star -Mission IV', Captain Aruni De Silva of Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police on Thursday (7) during a house-warming ceremony at Pothuarawa, Malabe.
The new house, built in a donated 12 perch land block, cost Rs 20 million for the sponsors, Dialog Axiata PLC who were also the main sponsors in the Ranaviru Real Star programmes in the year 2014.
President Maithripala Sirisena on arrival at the premises was warmly received by State Minister of Defence Hon Ruwan Wijewardene, Secretary Defence Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake and Mrs Basnayake and the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva before the Chief Guest was taken to the special dais by the new house in a colourful procession.
At the entrance to the house, offering a sheaf of betel and a bouquet of flowers, the day’s protagonist, Captain Silva and her mother warmly welcomed the President Sirisena before religious blessings of the Maha Sangha, got underway.
As the auspicious minute struck amid ‘Seth Pirith’ chanting, President Sirisena, together with the winner, Captain Aruni De Silva, cut a ribbon and inaugurated the house warming with the traditional oil lamp lighting practice in the company of other invitees seconds after they stepped into the house.
Lending her rich melodious voice to the occasion, Captain Aruni De Silva, reminding everyone of her musical talents, entertained the invitees by singing the lyrics of the popular ‘Ammawarune’ song of Visharad Nanda Malani which invoked sentimental value to the occasion.
Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary of Defence formally making a welcome speech to the occasion, briefed the gathering on the objective of the ceremony and thanked all those involved in the project.
President Sirisena in a brief congratulatory speech afterwards commended aesthetic values, inherent among service personnel.
The occasion also glittered with the presentation of a group song, voiced by all other Ranaviru Real Star finalists in the Mission IV, turning the brief ceremony to be of musical value. Afterwards, the deed and other documents of the new house were presented to the winner amid applause as the proceedings drew to a close.
State Minister of Defence Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene, Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary Defence and Mrs S. Basnayake, Chairperson, Ministry of Defence Seva Vanitha Unit, Chief Coordinator of the project, Senior Assistant Secretary, Mr Saman Dissanayake, MoD Additional Secretary Mr S. Hettiarachchi, Land Donor Dr Gunerathne, Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal K.A Gunatilleke, tri-service officers, Chief Executive Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Dr Hans Wijesuriya, SLRC Chairman Dr Somarathne Dissanayake, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General E.M.M. Ambanpola, Chief Coordinator of the Programme Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Chief Marketing Officer Dialog Axiata PLC, Ms Amali Nanayakkara and a large gathering were associated with the event.
The new house, built in a donated 12 perch land block, cost Rs 20 million for the sponsors, Dialog Axiata PLC who were also the main sponsors in the Ranaviru Real Star programmes in the year 2014.
President Maithripala Sirisena on arrival at the premises was warmly received by State Minister of Defence Hon Ruwan Wijewardene, Secretary Defence Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake and Mrs Basnayake and the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva before the Chief Guest was taken to the special dais by the new house in a colourful procession.
At the entrance to the house, offering a sheaf of betel and a bouquet of flowers, the day’s protagonist, Captain Silva and her mother warmly welcomed the President Sirisena before religious blessings of the Maha Sangha, got underway.
As the auspicious minute struck amid ‘Seth Pirith’ chanting, President Sirisena, together with the winner, Captain Aruni De Silva, cut a ribbon and inaugurated the house warming with the traditional oil lamp lighting practice in the company of other invitees seconds after they stepped into the house.
Lending her rich melodious voice to the occasion, Captain Aruni De Silva, reminding everyone of her musical talents, entertained the invitees by singing the lyrics of the popular ‘Ammawarune’ song of Visharad Nanda Malani which invoked sentimental value to the occasion.
Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary of Defence formally making a welcome speech to the occasion, briefed the gathering on the objective of the ceremony and thanked all those involved in the project.
President Sirisena in a brief congratulatory speech afterwards commended aesthetic values, inherent among service personnel.
The occasion also glittered with the presentation of a group song, voiced by all other Ranaviru Real Star finalists in the Mission IV, turning the brief ceremony to be of musical value. Afterwards, the deed and other documents of the new house were presented to the winner amid applause as the proceedings drew to a close.
State Minister of Defence Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene, Mr B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary Defence and Mrs S. Basnayake, Chairperson, Ministry of Defence Seva Vanitha Unit, Chief Coordinator of the project, Senior Assistant Secretary, Mr Saman Dissanayake, MoD Additional Secretary Mr S. Hettiarachchi, Land Donor Dr Gunerathne, Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal K.A Gunatilleke, tri-service officers, Chief Executive Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Dr Hans Wijesuriya, SLRC Chairman Dr Somarathne Dissanayake, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General E.M.M. Ambanpola, Chief Coordinator of the Programme Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Chief Marketing Officer Dialog Axiata PLC, Ms Amali Nanayakkara and a large gathering were associated with the event.
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