Virumawa Surakimu - honouring war heroes' mothers

Colombo: The second stage of the Virumawa Surakimu programme organised by the Prime Minister's Office to honour and assist the mothers of war heroes who have sacrificed their lives in defence of the country will be held at the John de Silva Memorial Hall today under Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka's patronage.

The Virumawa Surakimu programme is a concept of Kusum Wickramanayaka, Chairperson, Prime Minister's Office Seva Vanitha Unit.

It is implemented with the help of contributions made by donors and well wishers to help mothers of war heroes without any income source of their own, Media Secretary Prime Minister's Office Seelaratne Senarath said.

Under this programme, a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,000 is paid to each mother for one year in addition to other forms of assistance to enable them to start self-employment ventures.

The first stage of this programme was worked out last year and Rs. 1,248,000 was provided to a group of 104 mothers.

Under the second stage launched today, a group of 200 mothers of war heroes who have no other income source of their own will receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,000 each for an year.

In addition, a stock of 200 sewing machines valued at Rs. 3 million would be distributed among the group of 200 mothers to help them start a self-employment venture.

The 200 sewing machines donated by the 'Sethsavi Janatha Asheervada Padanama' was handed over to Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka by its President Jaliya Kulasekara at the Prime Minister's office recently.