Ex-servicemen have sacrificed a lot for the country - Defence Secretary
 

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

"New management styles and technology must come into being at the Ex-Servicemen's Institute for the benefit of the ex-servicemen as they have sacrificed a lot for the country.

This institute was started to support about 5,000 ex-servicemen who served during the second world war with the funds that came from Britain but today we have to think about 150,000 brave men and women." Secretary Defence Major General Asoka Jayawardena said at the opening ceremony of the new auditorium at the Ex-Servicemen Institute at Bristol Street, Colombo last week. He said that public contribution towards this is very important to upgrade the standards of the Institute and a system to develop the institute must be adopted. The Ministry of Defence will support by all possible means, he said.

The Ex-Servicemen's Associations now have a fully equipped auditorium to conduct meetings, seminars, workshops and similar events for 300 persons at a reasonable cost in the City of Colombo. Restaurant and bar, billiard room, accommodation block are the other facilities available at present for them.

Manager of the Institute Major M.A. Jayaratne said that the membership of the institute is available only for active service members of the three services and ex-servicemen who have obtained their membership through their affiliated associations.

The Board of Trustees, Major General Ranjith De Silva, Rear Admiral H. Mayadunne and Group Captain Wimalaweera representing the three service commanders, President Ex-Servicemen's Association Major General Tilak Paranagama were present at this event.