Country salutes disabled service personnel - PM

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne yesterday said that around 25,000 service personnel who were disabled during the exercise to free the country from the clutches of terrorism deserve to be respected by all Sri Lankans.

He said that these valiant soldiers sacrificed the best years of their lives for the country. 'We salute these brave men,' the PM said. The Prime Minister was speaking at a distribution of three-wheelers to the service personnel who became disabled in the operation.

This project was implemented by the Ranaviru Seva Authority. The Security Forces have ended the war under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and have brought international respect to the country as well, he added. Prime Minister, Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa and Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya handed over the keys of the three-wheelers to the beneficiaries at the ceremony.

"We all support the President to realize his dream of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia. "The Ranaviru Seva Authority has launched a series of projects under 10 categories for the welfare of families of soldiers who were killed in action during the past three decades. "A number of projects are in place for the welfare of disabled soldiers and their families.

"We have been distributing three-wheelers among disabled soldiers every year. This is the third time and around 180 three-wheelers were distributed among them," they added.