First anniversary of Abimansala

The first sanatorium-type wellness resort, 'Abimansala' for dependent war heroes, set up on the banks of the Nuwara Wewa at Anuradhapura as a concept of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, marked its first anniversary on Thursday.

President Rajapaksa, in his 'Mahinda Chinthana' manifesto, articulated his Government's role for disabled people and how care should be provided to them.

This visionary concept, applicable to disabled war heroes too, was made a reality by constructing the first wellness resort for 52 dependent Army war heroes of the North Central Province, in Anuradhapura with the guidance of Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa and under the directions of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya who brought the project to fruition with the unfailing support of the 'Brave Hearts' fund-raiser, spearheaded by the Seva Vanitha Army Branch.

President Rajapaksa's sustained concern and interest in the welfare of disabled servicemen continued to remain a beacon of hope to all 297 dependent war heroes scattered across the country, but without proper therapeutic care and domestic facilities.

The birth of the Attidiya Mihindu Seth Medura, now fully functional with 50 dependent war heroes, as well as 'Abimansala -2' currently nearing completion at Wilpitawatta, Kamburupitiya, has brought a sigh of relief to physically handicapped servicemen who had selflessly sacrificed their limbs to make a better tomorrow for Sri Lankans.

The especially designed wellness resorts provide these men hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, gymnasiums, medical laboratories, swimming-pools, 24-hour medical attention, entertainment and library facilities, herbal treatment centres, auditoriums and stadiums, not easily found in their residential areas.

At the same time, lifetime care for them by the very organisation to which they dedicated their entire life would bring them close fellowship and goodwill.

By allowing their loved ones to visit them for a brief stay in the wellness resort with all board and lodging, provided gratis by the Army, those immates would simultaneously become mentally relieved.

Army engineers and all ranks with their manpower, expertise and professional know-how have thrown their full weight behind the construction of these welfare centres on the directionsgiven by the Commander of the Army.

The Anuradhapura 'Abimansala' commemorated its first anniversary, with the participation of its inmates, with an all-night Pirith chanting ceremony on Thursday, followed by the opening of the new Budu Medura in the premises, offer of 'Heel Daana' to 50 members of the Maha Sangha the following morning and an artistic and musical ceremony on Saturday.