State Minister Tennakoon chairs a programme to look into welfare and administrative affairs of War Hero families and retired Army veterans
June 01, 2024- "The services of war heroes who sacrificed their lives and sustained injuries for the peace in motherland as well as the sacrifices of their families will always remain in our memory and we are eternally grateful to them."
Said the State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon while gracing another programme organized by the Sri Lanka Army to look into the welfare and administrative affairs of retired/ medically retired military personnel and family members of war heroes held today (Jun 01) at the Army Volunteer Force Training School in Diyatalawa.
State Minister Tennakoon was received by the Commander of the Security Forces (Central) Major General Rohitha Aluvihare on his arrival at the venue this morning. Army authorities had established help desks under seven of its Directorates to facilitate retired service personnel and war hero families to forward their grievances and seek redress.
Speaking further State Minister Tennakoon praised the immense sacrifices of the parents and family members of the war heroes during the war, as well as the supreme service of our brave war heroes who fought to uphold the territorial integrity of the motherland. He also praised the services of the tri forces both during and off duty.
He said that discussions have been held with Health Minister Hon. Ramesh Pathirana regarding the measures to be taken to provide services on priority basis for retired war heroes and war hero families at state hospitals. He also said that a programme is to be implemented, that would ensure a priority service to them when obtaining services from state banks and other government institutions. He revealed of a proposed subsidized loan scheme for serving and retired war heroes and said that the discussions are in progress with the chairman of the Bank of Ceylon in this regard.
In addition, the President has submitted a cabinet paper to the Parliament on providing land to war heroes and their family members on priority basis under the 'Urumaya' programme of providing freehold deeds for land, presently implemented by the government. Retired veterans and war hero families will be able to get those services in the future through the Divisional Secretariats.
State Minister Tennakoon further stated that the discussion were held with the Foreign Ministry to allocate a job quota for retired veterans and members of war hero families when the government sends workers for foreign employment.
Following the State Minister’s address those who had arrived to obtain services presented their grievances to relevant authorities.
Additional District Secretaries of Badulla and Monaragala, senior military officers, state officials, a large number of war heroes and their family members also participated in this event.
