Schols for Ranaviru children

Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) Headquarters, Battaramulla offered scholarships, valued at Rs 2,306,000 among Ranaviru families during a function held Saturday, headed by the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya was chief guest.

The Commander of Army accompanied by Manjulika Jayasuriya, President Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAD), arrived at the SLAVF headquarters. Lieutenant General Jayasuriya planted a tree sapling at the SLAVF Headquarters complex to mark his visit to the place.

Eighty-four children out of a total of 331 students received the bursary from the Army Commander and SVAB President Manjulika Jayasuriya.

The Commander addressing the gathering lauded the services of soldiers during the humanitarian operation and stressed that the next duty of the Army should be to assist the country’s development making it possible for Sri Lanka to be the ‘Wonder of Asia’. He also said that the Army with its strength has a greater responsibility in achieving the targeted development.

The ongoing ‘Brave Hearts’ project’ that builds the Anuradhapura ‘Abhimansala’ holiday resort for War Heroes as well as the rest and recreation centre, coming up at Attidiya on a concept of the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will facilitate dependent War Heroes to receive solace and recreation.

An international symposium on war experiences is to be held in Sri Lanka next year on the instructions of the Defence Secretary to promote the Sri Lanka Army’s image internationally, the Army Commander said.

He has taken steps to increase the Welfare Loan of the Directorate of Welfare to Rs 300,000. The Api Wenuwen Api project conducted under a concept of the Secretary Defence is already constructing houses islandwide for the disabled War Heroes who own a plot of land. Chief of Staff and a number of senior officers attended the function. SLAVF Commandant Major General D R A B Jayatilake donated Rs 1 million towards the ‘Abimansala,’ the wellness resort being constructed in Anuradhapura for the totally dependant disabled War Heroes. The donation was handed over to the Army Commander.