Houses for police terrorist victims

by Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The President of Police Seva Vanitha Unit Attorney-at-Law Mrs. Anoma Goonatilleke handing over a plaque of appreciation to the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa during the show.

Chairperson, Police Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Anoma Goonatilleke acting in `Vellavehum’.

Houses will be provided for the police officers who were victims of terrorism during the past. This will be done in gratitude for various sacrifices they made during the war.

Beliatta has been selected as the location of the first set of houses of this project as a tribute to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who led the three Armed Forces towards victory, President of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit, Attorney-at-Law Anoma Goonetileke said.

She said that 15 houses will be built under this project and the first three houses are located at Beliatta and the foundation stones were laid for those houses on the same day LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran was killed. The construction work of those three houses have been completed.

Another three houses will be built at Meerigama and three more houses will be constructed at Trincomalee. The houses to be built at Trincomalee will be distributed among those belonging to the three ethnicities. Each house built under this project will cost around Rs. 600,000. All 34 branches of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit will coordinate and assist in this program.

A land of one acre will be distributed among the police officers who do not have any land for themselves, she said. The Police Seva Vanitha Unit held a cultural show on August 1 at 6.30 pm at Elphinston Theatre, Maradana under the patronage of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in order to raise funds for this housing project.

A dance item presented by the WPCs

Mrs. Kusum Wickremanayake, Mrs. Ayoma Rajapaksa, Presidents of Seva Vanitha Units of the Armed Forces and several other invitees were present. Young female police officers in the Police Department who have come from all parts of Sri Lanka presented a cultural show. All the male characters were played by the WPCs. They were awarded special certificates by IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne. Wives of senior DIGs, SSPs and SPs also participated. Several songs, were short dramas, dances and other cultural items were included in the show.

Many reputed commercial establishments including the National Lotteries Board, Sri Lanka Telecom, Mobitel, Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank and Pan Asia Bank sponsored this show. The show provided an opportunity for the youth in the Police Department to display their talents in the field of performing arts. The total profit of the show was around Rs. 700,000 for the housing project.