Threewheelers for disabled soldiers

Rafik JALALDEEN

COLOMBO: Thirty disabled soldiers were offered threewheelers on Tuesday by the Ranaviru Seva Authority at the Defence Ministry under a Presidential directive on the basis of a soft loan system.

"The disabled soldiers have rendered a yeoman service to the country. The Ranaviru Seva Authority has begun a programme to offer threewheelers to the disabled soldiers, through which their families can benefit," Ranaviru Seva Authority Chairman Colonel Lalith Gunaratna said.

The Ranaviru Seva Authority provided around 100 threewheelers to disabled soldiers in 2006. It will be increased to 125 in 2007, he said.

"The disabled soldiers were selected from the order of the date of their application for the threewheeler. They also have to pay around Rs. 68,000 in advance and Rs. 5,588 will be deducted from their monthly salary for three years without any interest," Gunaratna said.

One minutes silence was observed in honour of soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the country.

Chief guest Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa handed over the number plates of the threewheelers and insurance certificates to selected 30 soldiers.