Meeting our War Heroes’ needs
Nothing could be timelier than a special bank account for ensuring
and enhancing the well being of our War Heroes.
Considering that an army really “marches on its stomach”, nothing
could be more appropriate than measures to meet the material needs of
our Security Forces personnel and a special bank account for these
Heroes could be seen as the proverbial stitch in time which would save
nine.
This then is a most thoughtful measure by the State and it should be
commended for adhering to a wish by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to
better the lot of our Security Forces who are today a great bulwark
against public enemy number one - the LTTE.
In assessing the needs of our Security Forces personnel, it should be
noted that what is of significance is not only their most immediate
physical needs. There are a number of other requirements of both a
physical and emotional nature which the State and society would do well
to meet.
Two of these are houses for their families and schools for their
offspring. The provision of these needs would impact on the Security
Forces emotionally, because their minds and hearts would be at ease when
they go about their exacting duties, far away from their loved ones.
It is encouraging to learn that the State has gone some distance in
meeting some of these needs because a school exclusively for the
children of Security Force and Police personnel has already been
launched in Colombo. Likewise, the groundwork has been laid for meeting
the housing needs of these War Heroes through the construction of some
50,000 houses.
It need hardly be said that the rank of file of our Security Forces
personnel do not hail from the affluent social strata. Most of them are
steeped in poverty and economic want. However, it is they who are
defending Sri Lanka against the marauding and murderous Tigers.
Accordingly, the State and society are deeply obliged to these War
Heroes and owe it to them to ensure that their most keenly felt needs
are met.
Therefore, it would be in order for all civic-conscious citizens to
contribute generously to the special bank account which would be opened
for our War Heroes. This is a most striking way in which we could say
‘thank you’, and that ‘we care.’
The country also needs to remember in a special way those Security
Forces and Police personnel who have been injured or maimed while
discharging their duties towards the country of their birth.
These personnel could in no way be forgotten. Their needs too should
be satisfied amply. By helping to swell the special bank account this
end could be met.
These personnel have gone more than the extra mile for us and ensured
that the security of our homes and work places remain inviolate. The
least we could do is help them financially and materially. |
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