[2012-07-20
18:33:14]
An
innocent mother of two who was living in a small hut with her
children at Atchelu was gifted a new permanent shelter by the
soldiers serving under the 511 Brigade of Atchelu during a function
held on Friday (20).
Mrs. Premalatha
Sivapalan (32) whose husband deserted the family some times back
is feeding her two children with a little money earned by labour
on daily wage. Commander 511 Brigade Colonel Wijendra Goonathilake
who saw the miserable life the family is living immediately started
construction work of a new house for the family on the same location
where their former hut stood. All Officers and Other Ranks of
the Brigade and the two battalions, 5th Sri Lanka Light Infantry
(5 SLLI) and 3rd Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (3 VIR) contributed
to this noble course with their own money. Although the estimated
expense to complete the construction was Rs. 250,000/=, labaour
of the soldiers of 3 VIR could finish the work with Rs. 75000/=.
Commander
Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe
who handed over the key of the house to Mrs. Sivapalan, addressing
the gathering said that these types of social work by the soldiers
give the right answer to some groups who voice against the Army’s
presence in Jaffna.
“Army has
so far built over 1700 houses for poor families in Jaffna. I would
like to ask those groups how many houses they have made for needy
families in Jaffna. Irrespective worthless comments of such small
groups, I assure that soldiers would continue their community
welfare projects in the peninsula in future too”, SF-J Commander
said.
General Officer
Commanding 51 Division Brigadier Piyal Wickramarathne, Divisional
Secretary Kopay Mr. M. Pradeepan, Commander 511 Brigade Col. Wijendra
Goonathilake, Commander 3 VIR Lieutenant Colonel W.P. Panditharatne,
Commander 5 SLLI Lieutenant Colonel G.A.L. Kithsiri, Grama Niladhari
of Atchelu Mr. Shanmugavelu were also present.
