First Lady lauds service of Deshamanya Siva Obeysekere

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa yesterday praised the social service rendered by Deshamanya Mrs Siva Obeysekere and said ladies of the calibre of Mrs Obeysekere who made social service a part of their life have been born to the nation's good fortune.

The First Lady expressed these sentiments when she attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Wathupitiwala Sir J P Obeysekere and Deshamanya Siva Obeysekere Childrens and Elders Centre at which Mrs Siva Obeysekere was also concurrently felicitated.

The First Lady said the Wathupitiwala Childrens and Elders Development Centre and the Attanagalla Childrens Development Centre were two monuments to the indefatigable social services rendered by the Obeysekere family.

She said Deshamanya Mrs Siva Obeysekere had rendered a great service towards the country's progressive movement as an active member of the SLFP and the services rendered by her should be acclaimed by all irrespective of political differences.

As a Minister too, Mrs Obeysekere had rendered a vital service towards the health of the nation.

Mrs Obeysekere's character was an ideal guide book for politicians as well as social workers' she added.

The First Lady also handed over a special memento to Mrs Siva Obeysekere awarded in appreciation of her social services.

The First Lady also distributed free spectacles among a group of needy elders and later toured the Wathupitiwala and Attanagalla centres on an inspection tour and presented gift parcels to them.

Viharadhipati Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya Ven Pannila Ananda thera, Deputy Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Sarana Gunawardena and Parliamentarian Upeksha Swarnamali were also present on the occasion.