War Hero families will be presented with houses, land and educational scholarships worth over Rs.700 million under the ‘Sathviru Abhiman’ programme under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena on July 22.
The housing assistance programme initiated by the Defence Ministry is in appreciation of the sacrifices made by War Heroes.
Under the direction of the President several welfare projects have been initiated to uplift the living standards of the tri forces, police and CSD war heroes and their families.
Among these initiatives the main focus has been on providing housing solutions, land and educational scholarships to their families.
Defence Secretary Gen.Shantha Kottegoda said a ceremony would be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Monday (22) under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.
The President will symbolically give away houses, land and educational scholarships, worth over Rs. 700 million to War Heroes and their families.
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. DFCC Bank’s Liabilities and Trade Business Development Vice President Anton Arumugam said Rs. 25,000 would be given to students for their educational purposes. “The funds have already been credited to the student’s accounts and this programme has been initiated to encouraging them to pursue their studies without hindrance.In addition to the assistance given to students, the bank also supports them with housing loans and their loans are tailored according to their specific requirements.”
As the initial stage 25 new houses have been built under the Api Venuwen Api project at a cost of Rs 37.6 million.
However, this cost does not include the labour and other expenses which is done by the security forces personnel.
The Secretary Defence, General Shantha Kottegoda, Chief of Defence Staff, Additional Secretary (Administration) to the MoD, Tri-Forces commanders, senior officers of the police and Civil Security Department were also present at the occasion.
Add new comment