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Wednesday, 19 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
As Sri Lanka sets foot on this journey towards accelerated and sustainable development, we envisage a future that provides social and economic security and equality for every segment of our society. Even as we ensure not to repeat those mistakes of the past, it is also important that we do not forget the men and women who consecrated their lives to make this moment in history a reality.
Thousands of armed forces personnel gave life and limb to bring a lasting peace to Sri Lanka to end a conflict which saw no bounds. Much are the stories of hardship and struggle to make ends meet; of responsibility towards their family, their future alongside the safety and integrity of their motherland.
As the guns go silent, and rightfully so, we mustn’t forget the invaluable sacrifice and commitment of these heroic men and women. Thousands who have been rendered disabled in battle and many more who have known no other duty than to defend their motherland now go back to begin life in quarters unknown.
A critical issue
Housing is a critical issue faced by many of the servicemen and women, having had received little or no opportunity during the war to establish homes for them and family. Disabled service personnel have special needs and also need care, which often come difficult in a traditional housing structure.
To pay tribute to these men and women who have given selflessly to their nation, the Ministry of Defence under its ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ program launched a scheme to provide housing for long-serving and disabled soldiers of the tri-forces. This unique program affords service personnel owning a land to apply for a facility whereby the Ministry will provide housing for the selected applicants.
A part of this project (which is currently in its second stage) was carried out by the Army’s Engineering Corps together with Maga Engineering, Sri Lanka’s flagship engineering and construction company. In its second phase, which encompasses the Colombo District, Maga Engineering has constructed 26 houses for service personnel in the Homagama, Padukka, Athurugiriya and surrounding areas at a cost of Rs. 100 million to the company.
The scheme is open to all service personnel of the armed forces who have served not less than 15 years in the tri-forces and that too in conflict areas. They must also possess land, but are unable or lack the means to construct a house for themselves. Priority is given to personnel who have served for longer periods with the forces and for those who have become disabled due to the war.
Once an application is made through the relevant serviceman’s Regimental Commander, the details of the application is assessed by the army headquarter together with the Ministry of Defence before granting approval to proceed with construction.
Maga steps up
With the commission of the program, Maga Engineering set about identifying the locations and demographics of the houses. Each housing unit consists of approximately 900 square feet and includes three bedrooms in addition to the living, dining and a bathroom. The company has used modern fittings and facilities in the completion of these units and placed build quality and design at the top of its criteria as it does with all its landmark constructions around the island.
Chairman and Managing Director of Maga M.G. Kularathna, said: “Sri Lanka is currently on an accelerated path of development and our lives and landscapes are constantly evolving. We owe this important juncture in our history to our armed forces, who for nearly three decades laid down their lives to bring about a lasting peace to our nation. These 26 residential units we constructed for war heroes together with the Ministry of Defence are part of our effort to pay tribute to their heroic effort and contribution.”
“At Maga our Corporate Social Responsibility is found on the ethos of economic and social equity, of providing opportunity to all segments of our society and bringing them closer and making them a part of the national development drive. This serves as a fundamental of all our projects island wide. Our contribution to the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ program is a significant part of this process. There are close to 10,000 disabled soldiers in the island, and we must take every effort to ensure we engage them and provide the necessary tools to make them part of this process. We thank the Ministry of Defence lead by Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for carrying out this noble venture. The vision of the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ program runs parallel to our ethos of social inclusion and empowerment and we are confident that together we will build a conducive platform for sustained economic and social development,” he added.
These three bed-roomed units offer up to 900 square feet of space. The Project Manager of the housing program from Maga Engineering said there were several difficulties that had to be overcome, including access to lands and material storage. Some of the lands were in marshy areas and had to be extensively filled prior to construction. Maga’s focus was always centred on the quality of construction. Furthermore, the company will also maintain these housing units for a defects-liability period of one year.
New lease of life
Petty Officer Abhayarathne of the Sri Lanka Navy is one such beneficiary under this unique housing program. Having served 22 years in the Navy out of which 12 years had been on the battlefront, Abhayarathne, a father of three, explained that the various difficulties faced by them had prevented them from constructing a house. He added that his son had undergone numerous surgeries due to an illness, and he was grateful to the Ministry of Defence and Maga Engineering for coming forward to assist him with his housing need.
“We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Defence headed by Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and to Maga Engineering lead by Captain M. G. Kularatne for affording this opportunity for me and my family and providing us a home to live in. It was extremely difficult for us to progress with our lives and even our livelihoods without a proper home, and we were staying with relatives. This gives us a new lease of life and a foundation to move forward.”
Of the 26 houses constructed by Maga, 14 units were received by members of the Sri Lanka Army, seven by the Air Force and the rest by the Sri Lanka Navy.
