'Manel Mal' to help Armed Forces, war-torn villages

by Thava Sajitharan

The 'Manel Mal Movement' has been set up to "assist the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka and people living in villages that have been attacked and are under threat of attack by the LTTE".

Addressing a press briefing in Colombo last Thursday, convenor of the Movement D. L. Gunasekara said: "the whole nation owes a greater debt to the Armed Forces of this country than the massive foreign debt it has".

Elaborating on the future plans of the movement, he said their aim was to look after the welfare of the families of the members of the forces and uplift the economic status of the war-torn villages.

He called upon all Sri Lankans to contribute to the endeavour.

"The task before us needs a national effort. We felt this was the need of the hour. It is high time that we forge such an organisation sinking all political, racial and religious differences".

Gunasekara said that the movement had no political affiliations although some members of political parties had encouraged the formation of such a movement. Members of the 'Manel Mal Movement' are scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa tomorrow.