Retired differently able War Heroes to receive pay increments

Differently able War Heroes, those who have retired on medical grounds would be allowed for salary increments on par with that of personnel on active service”, said Director/Spokesperson of the Media Centre of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya.

The Brigadier, addressing the weekly media briefing at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Media Centre yesterday (Sep. 3) also mentioned that, this initiative was taken considering the immense contribution and sacrifice they have made during the Humanitarian Operation.

“Those injured during the early stages of their service and secured pension on medical grounds will be immensely benefitted under this scheme”, he said. He went on to say that, “at present there are over 6200 such differently able service personnel receiving pension”.

Elaborating on the significance of ‘Army Searchlight Tattoo’ that is currently being held in different places around the country, he said that, “it is a traditional show performed to display military skills in the early days using ‘Antique Search Lights’ in the evening gloom”. “The first show was performed in Sri Lanka in 1963” he recalled. “Although, the army had performed this since 1963, it was disrupted with the escalation of war”. “But, in recent times, Army resumed Searchlight Tattoos covering Jaffna, Matara, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala areas”, Brigadier Wanigasooriya stated.

Further revealing on its upcoming programmes he stated that, “subsequent to the successful show at Nawalapitiya, the next shows will be performed at the Technical College Ground in Moneragala on 8th and 9th September, and Vincent Dias Ground in Badulla on 15th and 16th September”. “Parachute jumps, Commando displays, cannon fixing displays, military jeep assembling, military flyover fixing, drill displays, physical exercise displays will also be included”, he said.

Speaking on the proposed Aircraft Maintenance Centre, the Brigadier said that, “this initiative would enable us to attend the maintenance and repairs of Chinese made aircraft locally without sending them abroad”, he further said that, it’s merely an attempt to gain their expertise and save both time and money. “There is no any attempt to retain foreign aircraft maintenance engineers in the country permanently”, he emphasized.