Permanently Disable Tri-service War Heroes Accommodated in New 'Mihindu Seth Medura'

The sanatorium-type ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’, a conceptual model, mooted by Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a new project to accommodate permanently disable tri-service War Heroes for lifetime, saw its inauguration at Attidiya, Ratmalana road on Monday (30) during a special ceremony, graced by HE, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a host of other distinguished guests, including many near and dear ones of those disable War Heroes.

The ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ (Mihindu House of Blessings), situated in a 32 acre extent of land, bordering the marshy Attidiya-Bellanwila Bird Sanctuary and a cooling man-made serene lake, is to house 50 disable War Heroes of the tri-services during the Phase I of the project, providing them with necessary physical, medical and psychological requirements for the rest of their lives.

Monday’s (30) opening of this centre added one more significant milestone and a widely-felt need to the catalogue of Ministry of Defence-initiated commemorative programmes and events, in parallel with the ongoing War Hero month (19 May - 19 June) as declared earlier by the government and the Rana Viru Seva Authority.       

The entire complex, comprised of a state of the art most modern physiotherapy and hydrotherapy units, an emergency treatment section, a 24-hour on call serving doctor, service of an attendant to each patient, nursing service, rest and recreational facilities, music and entertainment, and almost all other sophisticated necessities, cost the Ministry of Defence, a staggering Rs 135 million for completion of the project. Donor agencies, philanthropists and many well wishers at the request of the Ministry of Defence offered their sponsorship for the entire successful construction of this unique complex.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been exceptionally concerned and bent on providing everything possible for welfare of those disable War Heroes and all tri-service personnel in general, took time off to be the Chief Guest for the inaugural ceremony, Monday (30) morning at the invitation of the Ministry of Defence.

President Rajapaksa on arrival at the venue was received warmly by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence. Afterwards, the President unveiled the plaque in the complex and officially declared it opened for the well-being of those War Heroes who selflessly fought against ruthless terrorism. President Rajapaksa and Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa offered flowers to the Buddha statue at the entrance and paid their respect. As members of the Maha Sangha commenced chanting Seth Pirith invoking blessings on the project, the President symbolically cut a ribbon and entered the premises. At the next moment, the President formally registered the admission of the first permanently disable bed-ridden War Hero to the new ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’, interacted with remaining disable War Heroes and toured the complex in order for him to get a first-hand glimpse of the entire project.

Cabinet Ministers, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Commandant, ‘Mihindu Seth Medura’ and a few more senior officers accompanied the President touring the complex.

The brief ceremony drew to a close after the finalists in the ‘Ranaviru Real Stars’ who made their first debut Sunday (29) night entertained the gathering of invitees and 50 disable War Heroes seeking admission to this special residence from Monday (30) onwards.    

The new abode for those permanently disable tri-service War Heroes offers separate air-conditioned single rooms to each of them with telephone and other electronic facilities and expects further expansion, to absorb a total of 200 such War Heroes in the future. It also provides rehabilitating assistance to those permanently disable War Heroes who sacrificed their legs and limbs for defence of the motherland in the past.