Free transport for soldiers again

Priority for Army personnel’s loan application:

Loans for house construction to be prioritised:

The Army is to re-introduce its free transport facilities to soldiers as earlier, since LTTE terrorism has now been defeated and its threat diminished, said Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday morning.

He was addressing a cross-section of other ranks serving the Colombo Army Headquarters for the first time after he took over as the Commander.

Soldiers at the Army headquarters and other establishments within Colombo were earlier provided free transport to specific destinations, but those services had to be suspended indefinitely as LTTE threat against military targets and convoys was on the increase.

Commander, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya during his interaction with other ranks assured them that the former transport service will be re-started while simultaneously exploring possibilities to re-launch transport facilities for children belonging to Army families.

Members of other ranks at this special gathering had the opportunity to directly interact with the Commander and seek solutions to their problems during the meeting.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya also told the gathering that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed State banks to give priority for loan applications forwarded by Army personnel.

Loans for house construction are to be prioritized, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said.

In response to questions raised by some, the Commander instructed senior officers in respective branches to immediately resolve them.

He also looked into welfare facilities at residential billets and quarters. The quality of the meals served is also to be raised in the future, the Commander said in response to another concern.

Chief of Staff Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe, Military Secretary Major General Milinda Peiris, Principal Staff Officers and a large gathering of other ranks attended the meeting.