A group of tri-service veterans, now in their dotage at the Veterans’ Home in Bolagala, Katana, managed by Ex-Servicemen’s Association, were awestruck by the presence of a special visitor to their home of rest and recreation on Thursday (29) with a bagful of gifts and surprises.
Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army with the intention of looking into the well-being of 19 ex-servicemen who had rendered a yeoman service to Sri Lanka’s tri-services (Army, Navy and Air Force) in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, now in retirement and are confined to this Veterans’ Home without having anyone to look after them, called at the place early this morning after organizing a special breakfast for them on the Commander’s behalf.
Those ex-servicemen, all of them more than 70 years of age have played different vital roles during some crucial stages of the country before independence and some of them were privileged to have served the then Ceylon Army of the British period as riflemen, engineers, infantrymen, gunners, bombardiers, sailors, pilots, inter alia as officers before their retirement or discharge.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake who partook of breakfast with military veterans in a friendly atmosphere, delivering a brief address, told the inmates that plans are underway on the directions of Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, to completely renovate the existing building and add more facilities to the venue under a new strategic programme which would facilitate the inmates further in the long run.
Commander of the Army on the spot instructed Colonel Senarath Yapa, Special Forces Centre Commandant who was on hand for the occasion to prepare a blueprint on the proposed development of the Veterans’ Home at Katana as soon as possible.
Minutes after the breakfast treat, the special guest on the day interacted with them, shared yesteryear pleasantries and gave away gift parcels, containing daily requirements to those war veterans as tokens of appreciation.
Brigadier (Retd) K.A Gnanaweera, President, Ex-Servicemen’s Association was present there to greet the visiting Commander. The Commander also praised the management and caretakers for their dedication and contribution. Before his departure from the place, he left his signature in the memory book at the home.
Situated at Bogala, Katana, approximately 12 km from the fishing town of Negombo, the Veterans’ Home lying in a 2 acre land reminds of ancestral values since that house itself was of traditionally and architecturally rich old one which goes back to the history of the latter part of 1850s.
Those interested to serve those who served by way of welfare of those veterans who do not have anybody to look after them, are also requested to contact the Ex-servicemen’s Association at 291/1, Bristol Street, Colombo 1.
Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army with the intention of looking into the well-being of 19 ex-servicemen who had rendered a yeoman service to Sri Lanka’s tri-services (Army, Navy and Air Force) in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, now in retirement and are confined to this Veterans’ Home without having anyone to look after them, called at the place early this morning after organizing a special breakfast for them on the Commander’s behalf.
Those ex-servicemen, all of them more than 70 years of age have played different vital roles during some crucial stages of the country before independence and some of them were privileged to have served the then Ceylon Army of the British period as riflemen, engineers, infantrymen, gunners, bombardiers, sailors, pilots, inter alia as officers before their retirement or discharge.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake who partook of breakfast with military veterans in a friendly atmosphere, delivering a brief address, told the inmates that plans are underway on the directions of Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, to completely renovate the existing building and add more facilities to the venue under a new strategic programme which would facilitate the inmates further in the long run.
Commander of the Army on the spot instructed Colonel Senarath Yapa, Special Forces Centre Commandant who was on hand for the occasion to prepare a blueprint on the proposed development of the Veterans’ Home at Katana as soon as possible.
Minutes after the breakfast treat, the special guest on the day interacted with them, shared yesteryear pleasantries and gave away gift parcels, containing daily requirements to those war veterans as tokens of appreciation.
Brigadier (Retd) K.A Gnanaweera, President, Ex-Servicemen’s Association was present there to greet the visiting Commander. The Commander also praised the management and caretakers for their dedication and contribution. Before his departure from the place, he left his signature in the memory book at the home.
Situated at Bogala, Katana, approximately 12 km from the fishing town of Negombo, the Veterans’ Home lying in a 2 acre land reminds of ancestral values since that house itself was of traditionally and architecturally rich old one which goes back to the history of the latter part of 1850s.
Those interested to serve those who served by way of welfare of those veterans who do not have anybody to look after them, are also requested to contact the Ex-servicemen’s Association at 291/1, Bristol Street, Colombo 1.
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