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Located on 46 acres of picturesque land in the suburbs of Colombo, bordering the Attidiya Bird Sanctuary, Mihindu Seth Madura is the healing home for gravely disabled war heroes. The facility provides lifelong care for its inhabitants whose injuries are so grave, to be cared for by their families.
All proceeds from the Ranaviru Stars’ US tour are to be channelled towards constructing an Ayurvedic treatment facility at Mihindu Seth Madura. The Ranaviru Foundation USA, a patriotic Sri Lankan organisation based in California, was the main sponsor of the tour.
The first performance of the Ranaviru Stars, ‘The Voice of Ranaviru,’ was held on 23 June at Carpenter Theatre, California State University, Long Beach, Los Angeles. According to Dr. Mohan Kumaratne, the President of the Ranaviru Foundation, the event drew an audience of about 700 people. An email correspondence from Dr. Kumaratne said the quality of the performance had far exceeded the expectations of the audience, with the organisers receiving many pledges of support for future projects benefitting Sri Lankan war heroes.
The ‘Ranaviru Stars Live in Concert in Washington’ was the second musical spectacle held on 29 June at John .F. Kennedy High School Auditorium, Silver Spring, Maryland. The event was organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC with the assistance of the Ranga Kala Kavaya, a Washington-based Sri Lankan community organisation. An appreciative audience of over 800 people were in attendance.
Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya addressing the audience opined that the occasion marks a historic meeting between Sri Lankan war heroes and the patriotic Sri Lankan American community.
“During the humanitarian operation, you courageously fought against negative propaganda aimed at the motherland and supported the valiant efforts of our heroic armed forces. On this historic day, you meet those heroes. It is indeed a great pleasure to see that you have come forward to help the disabled war heroes, recognising their sacrifices,” he said.
Ambassador Wickramasuriya also underscored that the welfare of the war veterans has been one of the top priorities of the Sri Lankan Government.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the direction of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa there are a number of monumental Ranaviru welfare programs underway. Ranajaya Pura – a housing project of 50,000 homes for war heroes, Defence Service College – a school with all modern facilities for the children of armed forces personnel, Ranaviru Doodaru – scholarship program for the needy children of the war veterans, Abhimansala – the network of healing homes for disabled war heroes and Mihindu Seth Madura – the lifelong healing home for disabled war veterans are only some of them,” he added.
President of Ranga Kala Kavaya Ananda Herath speaking on the occasion highlighted the importance of continued peace and freedom of a nation, for the development of performing arts.
“Today our war heroes who won the peace and freedom for the nation have become stars on our stage. We are truly fortunate to witness this occasion,” he said.
Herath also thanked Ambassador Wickramasuriya and the Embassy of Sri Lanka for the opportunity given for Ranga Kala Kavaya to organise the event on behalf of the community.
Commandant of Mihindu Seth Madura Lieutenant Colonel Vajira Kariyawasam in a short interview by compere Chaminda Gunaratne, briefed the audience on the treatment facility under his management.
“The Mihindu Seth Madura concept was made a reality by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and is probably the only facility of its kind in the world. I have with me about 400 disabled war heroes, all between the ages of 35-23 years who cannot perform even their basic day-to-day activities; who became deaf and blind, who were paralysed from the neck downwards, who are without arms and legs, due to battle injuries,” he said.
“Mihindu Seth Madura is a facility that looks after war heroes with such conditions for their whole life providing all facilities they need,” he added.
A short video documentary about Mihindu Seth Madura was also screened during the show.
The third and final performance of the tour, ‘Voice of Ranaviru,’ in New York was held at PS 58 Auditorium, Staten Island on 30 June. The performance was organised by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York and Sri Lankan community of New York and New Jersey.
Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN Major General Shavendra Silva addressing the audience stated that caring for war veterans is a duty of all Sri Lankans.
“Caring for disabled war heroes is not only a duty of the leadership of the country but also a collective responsibility of all Sri Lankans. That is why I thank for your contributions. Your aid will help the disabled war heroes,” he said.
“Those war heroes were once a very strong group of individuals. That is why even today, irrespective of their disabilities they stand up,” he added. Head of SriLankan Airlines GSA in North America and Honorary Director for Sri Lanka Tourism in the USA Dillan Ariyawansa, speaking on behalf of the organisers, said the event was a tremendous success with all tickets sold out and a superb performance from the Ranaviru Stars.
The Ranaviru Stars performers departed from the USA on 2 June, from New York John .F. Kennedy Airport.
Ranaviru Real Stars is a popular reality TV singing competition for members of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Defence. The Ranaviru Stars’ US tour is the first international tour featuring the winners of the first two seasons of the competition.
