'Sathviru Abhiman' national ceremony under President's patronage
July 19, 2019War Hero families to be presented with houses, land and educational scholarships worth over 700 million rupees
The nation owes its gratitude to the War Heroes who had sacrificed their lives and limbs to usher in an era of peace and unity in the country. Since the dawn of peace the tri forces, police and the Civil Security Department has embarked on a new mission and play a prominent role in the reconciliation and nation building process.
Under the direction of the President, a large number of welfare projects have been mooted to uplift the living standards of the tri forces, police and CSD War Heroes and their families. Providing housing solutions, land and educational scholarships to War Hero families is one of the major welfare initiatives that is being carried out to ensure their wellbeing.
One such mega welfare project will see its finale on Monday evening (22 July 2019) when President Maithripala Sirisena, will give away houses, land and educational scholarships, worth over Rs. 700 million to War Heroes and their families at a national ceremony to be held at the Sugathadsa Indoor Stadium.
These benefits are presented to families of fallen War Heroes, dis-able War Heroes and their families. Funding for the construction of new houses and completion of partly built houses is made under the 'Api Venuwen Api' project and the National Defence Fund.
From 2010 up to date 2917 new houses have been built while 4487 partly built houses have been completed since 2014. The total houses that have been completed under this project stands at 7404.
The National ceremony on Monday will see 1504 beneficiaries receive houses, land and educational scholarships. 25 newly constructed houses worth about Rs. 2.5 million, with labour provided by the tri forces will be presented to fallen and disable War Hero personnel and their families and another 925 beneficiaries will be provided assistance to complete their partly built houses.
In addition, state land in Elahera, Kolonna, Anamaduwa, Mundalama and Padaviya Divisional Secretary Divisions will be presented to 246 War Heroes to build houses. 308 scholarships will be presented to children from War Hero families under the Viru Sisu Pradeepa project. The DFCC bank had presented Rs 7.5 million towards these scholarships.
The 25 new houses are built under the Api Venuwen Api project with an expenditure of Rs 37.6 million. This cost does not include the labour and other expenditures which were borne by the security forces.
A press conference to educate the media on the National ceremony was held at the Ministry under the patronage of the Secretary Defence, General SHS Kottegoda (Rtd) WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc, today (19 July 2019). Chief of Defence Staff, Additional Secretary (Administration), tri forces commanders, senior officers of the police and Civil Security Department were also present at the occasion.
