Granting of scholarships to children of heroic naval personnel
 

Scholarships were granted to 52 children of heroic naval personnel at a ceremony held at the Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayaka auditorium of SLNS Parakrama on 26^th January 2016. The Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi was the Chief Guest at the event organized as part of the welfare programmes initiated by the Armed Forces Welfare Division of the Ministry of Defence.

Ten wheelchairs and five crutches were donated to twenty disabled naval personnel by the AIA insurance company at the event in tribute to their heroic deeds performed in the defence of the motherland along with five computers to the Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, which is spearheading a range of welfare programmes for the benefit of the naval personnel and their families. The cash payment entitled under the AIA insurance cover provided to the NSB loan facility for war heroes was also presented to the wife of the late Chief Petty Officer LIP Kumara to coincide with the event.

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence NG Panditharatne, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe, senior naval officers attached to the Naval Headquarters, the Chairman of the National Savings Bank and the Director (Operation) of the AIA Insurance Company were among the invitiees that attended the event.