Published on - 10/3/2007
NO MATTER WHERE you reside, in Sri Lanka or overseas. Genuine and considerate countrymen are still highly concerned of what is happening in their beloved motherland, particularly as regards sacrifices being made by tri-services and the Police in the face of LTTE terrorism. Equally a supportive role being extended by the re-organized Civil Defence Force has enormously assisted the Security Forces to defend territorial integrity and crush terrorism. They too work hand in hand with members of the tri-services.
Civil Defence Force, widely known as Home Guards unit among the public, which has recruited many village youth for protection of villages and other areas as necessitated by the local Police and other authorities, too sacrifices their precious lives for the sake of their country. The Civil Defence Force has now received a boost as a separate wing of the security apparatus.
Civil Defence Force officer (Home Guard) A. Subharathna on 23rd May 2007 died a valiant death in a Tiger terrorist attack while he was serving Vekanda, Thiruwegama area under 211 Division in Vavuniya. It was an unexpected loss for his family. His son, Amila Darshana was studying for Advanced Level Examination at Anuradhapura Walisinghe Maha Vidyalaya after he received a scholarship to this school due to his talents when Tigers mercilessly took his father's life. As a result he had to think twice. Poverty in the family affecting everything in his life began to impede his further studies since their only bread-winner was dead and gone while financial constraints begin to loom large.
Their story however came up in a Canadian daily, prompting a few Sri Lankans to initiate a welfare programme for this needy student after a dialogue with ground troops in Vavuniya. Concerned Sri Lankan expatriates, Mr. Mahinda and Mrs. Manjula, Mr. Kapila and Mrs. Shyama, Mr. Viraj and Mrs. Dilini and Mr. Lal Handapangoda and Mrs. Sandhya got together and recalled how much their three late next of kin, Colonel Harishchandra Hewaarachchi, Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Pieris and Captain Wasantha Goonathilake of the Army did for their country, and subsequently decided to trail this student and offer monetary assistance to him on a monthly basis in memory of their fallen War Heroes.
Accordingly, the student is to receive a monthly instalment of Rs. 8000.00 for a period of three years commencing from September 15th, it was finally decided. The money sent by Canadian philanthropists deposited at Medawachchiya People's Bank is to be released to the mother, Mrs. R. Wimalawathi, wife of the slain Civil Defence Force officer on a monthly basis. The first instalment of the scholarship with the bank book was recently presented to the mother by Major General J. Jayasuriya, Commander Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni.
Security Forces take this opportunity to thank Sri Lankan expatriates for their appreciation, considerateness and generosity towards members of the families of War Heroes who are behind there fighting for defence of the motherland, thinking to create a better tomorrow for all of us.
