Another phase of ‘Virusara’ card distribution held under the patronage of the State Minister of Defence at Commando Regiment Headquarters, Ganemulla

Another phase of ‘Virusara’ card distribution was successfully held under the patronage of the State Minister of Defence, Hone Ruwan Wijewardana at the Commando Regiment Headquarters, Ganemulla on 09^th December 2016. The programme was initiated following a concept of the State Minister of Defence to offer special privileges for the war heroes.

Speaking on the occasion the State Minister of Defence stated that 25,000 privilege cards were already distributed in the previous year and it is expected to distribute another 25,000 cards next year. Though it is difficult to address each and every issue pertinent to the war hero families, this effort had paved the way to resolve many of those matters the Minister opined further.

In parallel with this programme, a donation of plots of land to war heroes who do not possess land and awarding of scholarships for the grade five students were also got off the ground under the auspices of the State Minister of Defence. He also declared the arrangements are in place to grant a pension scheme for the spouses of war heroes, after 55 years.

The ‘Virusara’ privilege card project being implemented on a concept of the State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardena under the theme of "Priority to White Doves". It mainly aims to offer benefit for the families of war heroes served in tri- forces, Police and Civil Security Forces who were killed or went missing in action. Besides, disabled civil staff (cooks, stewards and clerks) and around 300,000 their family members will also be benefited through this project.   
   

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the State Ministry of Defence, Mr. APG Kithsiri, Additional Secretory to the Ministry of Defence W.A. Kulasuriya, Chairperson of the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA), Mrs. Anoma Fonseka, senior officers of tri-forces and War Hero beneficiaries and a large number of their family members were also present on the occasion.