President presides over the second phase of Virusara Privilage Card distribution in Hingurakgoda.

The prime aim of the distribution of Virusara Privilege Card is to offer benefits for tri – services, Police and Civil Security Department personnel who sacrificed their lives, went missing in action and became disabled during active service in the process of bringing a lasting Peace for the motherland. The programme which is operated on the theme of “Sudu Paraviyanta Multhana Denna “ is expected to offer benefits for nearly 300,000 war heroes and their family members.

The second phase of the distribution ceremony of Virusara Privilege Card got underway under the patronage of H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena at the Auditorium of the University of Rajarata in Hingurakgoda on 27th June 2016.

Accordingly the president symbolically distributed privilege cards for 12 personnel from the tri – services, Police and Civil Security Department Commencing the 2nd phase of the ceremony 440 from the Army , 85 from the Navy, 200 from the Air Force , 100 from the Police and 75 from the Civil Security Department received this privilege card.

Under the 1st phase of this magnanimous project nearly 15,000 beneficiaries ranging from the family members of the war heroes those who were killed in action to disabled war heroes were benefited by this special card granted for them.

Service personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force , Police and Civil Security Department who have completed 22 year service, being retired or in active service (from 1983 – 2009), their spouses and children have been named as beneficiaries and are entitled for the benefits offered by the card. 
      
Offering 200 scholarships worth Rs 23,500 by the British Way English Academy, the donation of Multilac worth Rs 100,000 to colour wash schools damaged by terrorist activity, offering 07 Tablet Computers by Huawei for 07 schools in Polonnaruwa District which produced most number of war heroes from the area, were some significant contributions made by sponsors during this time around.

Apart from the 45 existing institutions who joined hands with Ranawiru Sewa Authority to offer benefits, 10 more new institutions have come forward to work in collaboration with “Ranaviru Seva Authority” to date. And it has been a crowning achievement of the project.

As per the concept of State Minister of Defence Hon Ruwan Wijewardana these privilege cards offer benefits with the able assistance of 55 state and private sector institutions in the fields such as, Hospital, Telecommunication, Leasing, Finance, Railway, Vocational Training , Computer data, Furniture and other appliances, Satellite TV, Public transport and more offering attractive discounts as well.

The occasion was also attended by Minister of State for Defence Hon Ruwan Wijayawardena, Minister of  Regional Development, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense, Engineer Karunasena Hettiarachchi , State Secretary to Ministry of Defense, Mr. A.P.G. Kithsiri, Chief of Defence Staff, tri-forces commanders, Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Eastern Province, Director General of the Civil Defense Department, members of the armed forces and Police department and war hero family members attended the meetings .