The Sri Lanka Army upon the culmination of the war against LTTE terrorism in May 2009, in addition to the provision of sustained security arrangements in the peninsula became extremely sensitive to the concerns of war-affected civilians of low-income groups, in an attempt to provide whatever assistance or relief to them.
Accordingly, on the directions of successive Commanders of the Army and also with the blessings of the incumbent Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, enthusiastic Army personnel of the Security Force HQ – Jaffna took to the construction of new houses for the homeless in the peninsula in order to promote ethnic harmony, reconciliation, co-existence and peace in the island.
Likewise, members of the Security Forces wanted those innocent civilians to feel that they are provided security round the clock while simultaneously being humane to them attending to their needs and emergencies in specific areas.
Being the most prominent and disciplined human resource of the country, the Sri Lanka Army going beyond their borders of friendship provided their technical and manpower support for erection of most -needed houses.
Believe it or not, it is the Army who are in the process of harnessing the support of generous donors and philanthropists, most of them from the South, for these invaluable house construction projects taking their own initiative for a noble cause. Bonds of a nation and age-old friendly ties between North and South were revitalized, human values further promoted as the troops embarked on the project of house construction.
Mostly South-based philanthropists, donors, religious leaders, and Lions Clubs through the Army coordination extended their boundless generosity and this humanitarian gesture wiped the tears of many under-privileged families, those being unable to live with dignity due to lack of proper shelter.
By early April, this year, Jaffna troops to their credit with their technical expertise and manpower had completed the construction of 769 houses and vested them in needy families, a record no other agency except only the government sector could challenge.
As at present, construction of four more such new houses for the poor is underway under the guidance and selfless efforts of the Jaffna Commander, respective General Officers Commanding and Brigade Commanders serving the peninsula.
On the house-warming day, troops were equally enthusiastic in providing pieces of most essential furniture, electricity, water, electronic appliances, and also by planting valuable saplings in their compounds to make the environment green. In addition to that, Army troops are in the practice of extending their technical support for cultivation of abandoned paddy fields and Chena cultivations in the peninsula by way of free land-tilling, construction of waterways, supply of egg seeds, water, etc.
The Army, well-determined to create a better tomorrow for those poverty-stricken sections of the northern society, devoid of violence, extremism, hatred and discrimination have round the clock lent their helping hand generously for the betterment of communities while doing everything possible to promote ethnic harmony, reconciliation and peace in the North of the country.