Abhimansala – Sri Lanka Army’s newly constructed Wellness Resort:

Visiting his father

Don’t let the sun go down on them

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Lance Corporal Suranga Lakmal Weerakoon is mightier than he looks. After completing an uncountable number of tedious tasks in his line of duty Weerakoon is adjusting himself to face the most challenging task of his life. Weerakoon is full of guts to bring a better tomorrow for his present life where he is a differently abled man. With great pride this 23-year-old soldier of the Sri Lanka Army recalls his unbeatable experience in the front line.

The last one was in Pudukuduyirippu. The small team, in which Weerakoon was in, reached the Pudukuduyirippu junction in the wee hours of February 27, 2009 under orders to hold the ground and establish their defence line in a large coconut estate close to the junction. The team hurried in to complete the task.

“We were building our defence line when the enemy attack hit me hard. And that’s all I know.

“The shot hit my forehead cracking the bone to pieces and destroyed my left eye,” Weerakoon said. Weeks later he regained consciousness at the Kandy General Hospital to find himself gone blind. “I tried to find my eyes as I felt something strange about my face.

“I felt a sever pain in my head. All I found was an empty cavity instead of the left eye.

“The right eye was covered with a dressing,” he said. As he explained, it was the most dreadful moment of his young life.

Relaxed evenings – the Calypso band music enjoyed on the banks of ‘Nuwara Wewa’

It was too much to bear, not only to him but also to his father. Amidst the greatest support of Weerakoon’s sisters, their father started falling sick and a few months later when Weerakoon returned home his father became terminally ill.

His father passed away a few months later. Weerakoon was alone though his sisters did their best to look after him. Today Weerakoon is at the ‘Abhimansala’ – Sri Lanka Army’s newly constructed Wellness Resort at Anuradhapura.

Like Weerakoon, many brave young men who lived for others are living today at the home for the dignified that lies on the banks of Nuwara Wewa .

This home for the dignified is exclusively built for disabled war heroes who stood for our motherland protecting us fighting against terrorists.

These men, severely injured during the battle against the world’s ruthless terrorists, today with serious disabilities are learning to face life, turning their disabilities in to different abilities.

The cool breeze blowing through every inch of the ‘Abhimansala’ soothes the scorching heat of ‘Rajarata’ as well as minds of these men from their wounds of a horrific past. Spending over Rs. 200 million the Anuradhapura ‘Abhimansala’ is constructed to accommodate 52 inmates.

Caring wherever necessary

Among them 32 are bed-ridden and depend on the caring of the medical and nursing staff. Some are ambulant.

Yet, for many of those inmates, ‘bed ridden’ could be a totally wrong term when one see how they spend the day. Other than those with quadriplegic disabilities many of them take part in a number of activities during the day.

This wellness resort was ceremonially vested in disabled soldiers by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 26. ‘Abhimansala’ is the brainchild of Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.

The total funding was through the ‘Brave Hearts’ project which successfully continues to be the source of encouragement with greatest efforts of Manjulika Jayasuriya, President of the Army Seva Vanitha Unit. Endless efforts of the Brave Hearts project team under the instructions of Manjulika Jayasuriya and with the generosity extended by a grateful nation made it possible to collect more than the required amount making it possible to expand the service.

Abhimansala accommodates bed-ridden soldiers with severe injuries to brain, upper spinal cord etc in closely supported monitored wards. Each room is designed for four people with TV facility.

Those who are ambulant with assistance are accommodated in two Bed Room Villas each with four persons.

“Abhimansala will take care of these young men throughout their life giving ample space for them to spend time with their families as well.

Sharpening new skills (computers)

“Family members can come and visit them and stay for a few days with their loved ones in the Cabanas built specifically for them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ajith Senadheera, Commandant of the Centre.

Their vision is to rehabilitate disabled Army personnel physically, mentally and spiritually and make them independent to the furthest possible level.

They need to become icons for society able to lead the nation towards betterment.

It is a mammoth task to care for 300 plus soldiers permanently disabled with multiple injuries. Ended up with a traumatic experience the soldiers never treated protecting the country’s sovereignty and integrity solely as a mere job responsibility. They deserve life long care for their valour and selfless thoughts.

Albert Einstein once said, ‘Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.’ Today the Brave Hearts project is extending the ‘Abhimansala’ concept to the North Western Province. Construction work for the second ‘Abhimansala’ is to start off in Alawwa soon.