Ranaviru family outreach meetings conclude successfully in Matara

The 17th and the final session of the round of Ranaviru family outreach meetings organised by the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) was held at the 2nd Gemunu Watch regimental headquarters in Matara on Friday. Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and a team of several other senior government officials met members of over 350 Ranaviru families at this session.

The round of meetings commenced in March 2009 in Anuradhapura for the Ranaviru families of Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts. The aim of the program was to provide an opportunity for the members of the Ranaviru families, particularly of those who laid down their lives from the Mavil Aru operation to the end battle, to meet Secretary Defence.

delivering the opening address said that Secretary Defence has met members of around 4000 Ranaviru families during the 17 meetings held.

“This program was launched on an idea of the Secretary Defence. Three months ago he informed me that he wants to meet family members of those war heroes who had laid down their lives since the Mavil Aru operations personally”, the RSA chairman said.

Speaking further, the RSA chairman went on to explain the Ranaviru welfare project currently undertaken by the Authority.

“We have organised the Ranaviru families scattered across the island in to `Ranaviru Sansada’, at Divisional Secretariat level, so that they would be more empowered to project their problems to the authorities. Also, we have appointed an officer of the Ranaviru Seva Authority at each governor’s office to look after the welfare of the Ranaviru families at provincial level”, he said.

“In order to improve the psychological well-being of the Ranaviru families , we have organised “Manu Samaja” counselling programs, also at divisional level”

“To address problems on housing and lands we have the land and housing project that is implemented with the coordination of divisional and districts secretaries and the land registrar.

“Since our main focus is on the uninterrupted education of the Ranaviru children, we have a scholarship program and a skills development program for those children with higher potential”

In addition to the above projects, the RSA chairman highlighted several other projects, including a concessionary loan scheme for housing and health needs, a welfare project for disabled war heroes, a memorial program and a project to improve infrastructure facilities of the Ranaviru villages.

“You do not need to go behind anybody to solve your problems any longer. You can directly contact the authority via our provincial officers. Soon we will appoint officers at district level, so that Ranaviru Seva Authority becomes more accessible to you”, he added.

Speaking at the occasion Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that he initiated the program to convey his condolence and to express his gratitude to the Ranaviru families for the sacrifices they made.

“I consider it is my duty as the Secretary Defence of this country to meet personally, the parents, wives, and children of those war heroes who laid down their lives since the Mavil Aru operation and to convey my condolences for their losses and to express my gratitude for their sacrifices on behalf of His Excellency the President and the government”, he said.

He pointed out that the victory being celebrated at every nook and corner in the Island was achieved because of the sacrifices made by the war heroes and their family members.

“We have achieved this great victory, because of the noble sacrifices made by your loved ones at the battlefield. In fact, it was because he had fought at the front that he had to lay down his life. It is because he had fought at the front that we achieved this victory”, the Secretary Defence said.

“We must always remember that the victory has been achieved with invaluable sacrifices. The aim of programs such as this is to show that we would never forget them “We know that we would never be able restore your loss or lessen your grief, but I always consider it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence to value the sacrifices you made, express our gratitude and to do everything possible to take good care of you”, he added.

Finally, he highlighted the importance of recalling the great sacrifices made by the war heroes at all times. He said that the heroic deeds of the war heroes during last 30 years of war would inspire the nation to work towards the country’s development with greater commitment.

Chairperson of the MOD Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa, Additional Defence Secretary, Willy Gamage and several other senior government officials participated in the discussions.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Ranaviru Seva Authority held the 17th session of the Ranviru Welfare meeting covering the Ranaviru families of the Gampaha district recently. The program was held under the patronage of Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the regimental headquarters of the Commando Regiment at Ganemulla.

The round of Ranaviru welfare meetings organized by the Ranaviru Seva Authority acts as an interface between needy Ranaviru families and various government authorities including the Ministry of Defence. During these meetings, the members of Ranaviru families are given an opportunity to forward their grievances to the highest officials of government institutions.

The divisional secretary, the land registrar, heads of the water and electricity boards, officials of pension department, MOD Seva Vanitha Unit , Ranaviru Seva Authority, etc attend the meetings.

Delivering the opening address, Acting President of the Ranaviru Seva Authority, Major General (Retired) Palitha Fernando recalled from memory when he was asked by the Secretary Defence to initiate a program to pay tribute the soldiers and family members who had made immense sacrifices since the Mavil Aru operation.

He said that the Ranaviru Welfare program was launched accordingly to meet close relatives of the war heroes in 18 districts.

“Steps have been taken to help Ranaviru families to buy lands or construct houses and to provide scholarships for their children”, General Fernando said. Also, he added that an improved skills-development program has been launched for the disabled soldiers.

Meanwhile, Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa speaking at the event highlighted that the programme has been implemented particularly to meet the family members of the war heroes who laid down their lives to liberate the nation since the Mavil Aru operation till the final phase of the successful humanitarian operation.

He also said that the program allows him and the other relevant officials to get first hand information of the problems faced by the Ranaviru families, he said that effective and timely solutions would be provided for their grievances. Also, he took the opportunity to share his condolences with the Ranaviru families who lost their loved ones in the battle.

Courtesy: defence.lk