Schols worth Rs 18 m for War Hero children

Sandasen Marasinghe

The Defence Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit spent Rs. 18 million within three years to provide scholarships to children of War Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice or were rendered differently-able, Defence Ministry Additional Secretary Indu Ratnayake said.

She made this observation at the scholarship awarding ceremony yesterday held under the patronage of Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to provide scholarships to 48 children of War Heroes attached to the three Forces and the Police. The ceremony was held at the Defence and Urban Development Ministry Auditorium. The Additional Secretary said the programme initiated on a concept of Defence Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit Chairperson Ayoma Rajapaksa will continue to provide scholarships to the children to continue their studies. The children from grades one to five each, received scholarships of Rs 20,000 and the students from grades six to eight got scholarships worth Rs 30,000 each while children from grades nine to 13 got scholarships worth Rs 50,000 each. Each child also got a pack of gifts. She said funds to grant scholarships to the children were donated by Sri Lankan employees in Kuwait. The initiative had been taken by Gamini Wijeratne and Daya Lankapura.

Dr Gamini Gunawardena employed in USA donated for the Rs 50,000 scholarships. Scholarship recipient Prasadi Kaushalya Ranawaka delivering a speech said her father was rendered differently-able at the operation, yet she was proud of him as he rendered a great service to make the country peaceful and the future of all children happy. Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Defence Ministry Ayoma Rajapaksa, wife of the Chief of Defence Staff Nelun Goonatilake, Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit of Sri Lanka Army Manjulika Jayasuriya, Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy Srima Colambage, Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit of Sri Lanka Air Force Neelika Abeywickrama and Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit of Sri Lanka Police Sarangi Ilangakoon were also present .