Defence Ministry launches first War Veterans’ mobile service from Kalutara
March 08, 2020Defence Secretary Maj.Gen.Kamal Gunaratne said the Government, which was committed to look after war –heroes, would revise the existing provisions through a new Cabinet paper to solve anomalies in pension and allowances for fallen and disabled war heroes and their families.
Inaugurating the ‘War Veterans’ Mobile Service (WVMS)’, held at Dodangoda in Kalutara district on March 7, Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said the Government would take all possible steps for the welfare of the war heroes.
The WVMS, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence and functions under the Ranaviru Seva Authority, is aimed at redressing administrative and welfare issues associated with war veterans and their families.
‘We are committed and determined in resolving issues of our men, women and their families,” the Defence Secretary, delivering the keynote address as the chief guest, said.
He revealed that a new cabinet paper had been drafted and forwarded for approval on identifying existing technical flaws of the previous scheme after much deliberation and scrutiny for the provision of pension payments and allowances for disabled war heroes, widows and families.
“We are there to provide all the facilities for our war heroes. We have made a pledged to do so and we will continue to standby our discourse”, he said.
Commenting on recent protests staged by a group of war veterans and widows, he said the society looked at war heroes with utmost respect and it is their responsibility to conduct themselves to gain respect and dignity from people.
“Let us not be political devices of others and loose the respect we have earned as war heroes. There’s no rationale in demonstrating out at streets in the scorching sun, when we have programs as this is functioning at their doorstep to provide them a hassle free service ,” he said.
The concept of WVMS, which is a brain child of the Defence Secretary and an outreach initiative of the Ministry, aimed at identifying administrative and welfare issues of war veterans and families to providing for sustainable and prompt solutions.
Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority Gen (Retd) Nandana Senadeera, officials representing the tri-services and police were also present at the occasion.
