I will not let any war hero become helpless: President

President Maithripala Sirisena says he would not let any war hero retired or in the service become helpless.

“The current government is dedicated to improve the quality and the strength of the security forces”, he said. 

The President was speaking at the second phase of the program to present the Virusara Privilege card for War Heroes, held yesterday (27 June) at the Rajarata Vidyalaya, Hingurakgoda.

Virisara Privilege cards are offered to those who have completed 22 years service in the security forces from 1983 to 2009, and to retired officers of tri forces and the police. 

The President pointed out that the government’s objective in introducing this card was to protect the dignity of the war heroes. He emphasised that the government will not neglect the responsibility to ensure the welfare of the war heroes and their families. “We will pay attention to the common issues as well as the personal problems of theirs, and take action to solve them”, he said.

President Sirisena said he completely rejects the allegations made that the government is weakening the security forces by removing security camps.

He recalled that one leader made a statement that the explosion of the Salawa Camp in Kosgama occurred due to the weakness in courage of the security forces. “This is not the first time when a thing like this happened. There were larger explosions than this before as well,” he said.

The President symbolically handed over the Virusara Varaprasada card. The contributions for this program by the private institutions were presented to the President at this occasion.  

The President also presented a number of housing loans, as part of the housing loan program created for the war heroes of the North-Central Province.

Minister, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijeywardena, Member of Parliament Nalaka Kolonne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the State Ministry of Defense A. P. P. Kithsiri, Chief of Defense Staff, Commanders of the Tri Forces, Director general of the Civil Security Force Chandraratna Pallegama and the Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority Anoma Fonseka were among the other key persons who participants at this event.