The Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR) handed over a cheque for Rs 1,662,224 to the Secretary of Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a contribution of towards the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Defence Housing Project.
SPUR, which has been at the forefront in countering LTTE misinformation on Sri Lanka and contributing to welfare projects in Sri Lanka since 1995, organised and held a musical concert in Melbourne on the 16th of May 2009 to raise funds for ‘Api Wenuwen Api’, an initiative of the Ministry of Defence to provide housing facilities for members of the Sri Lankan Security Forces.
An up and coming musical group ‘Hela Shakthi’, consisting of young Sri Lankans who have come together through their love of music and their motherland, joined SPUR in this endeavour. Balancing family life, work and studies, these young men worked hard to put on a wonderful evening of entertainment. Their efforts were rewarded when they performed to a capacity crowd.
The concert commenced with two minutes silence to honour the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our motherland and the civilians who were victims of LTTE terrorism. This was followed by the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by Col. Rajitha Ampemohotti (SL Army), Col. Channa Waduge (SL Army), Wing Cmdr. Theja Cooray (SL Air Force), Chief Inspector Samantha Wijekoon (Police STF), Mr Sumeda Narayana (Hela Shakthi Band) and Mrs Jeanne Jayasinghe (SPUR).
Joining Hela Shakthi on stage was a wealth of talent in both singing and dancing. Two well known artistes from Sri Lanka performed at this event. One of them was the differently abled soldier-singer, Colonel Rajitha Ampemohotti of the famous Sri Lanka Army Ranaviru Band, who was specially invited for this musical concert and thrilled the audience with his golden oldies. The other was popular singer Malith Perera who gave a polished performance and got the crowd going. They were ably supported by popular Melbourne singers Athula Leuke Bandara, Sewwandika Abeyratne, Ruvini Dunuwille, traditional dance specialist Keshala Aparakka as well as several others.
A record crowd attended the musical evening. Some, who were unable to attend due to previous commitments, purchased tickets and donated them back so they could be sold to others. The enthusiasm of the audience and the gratitude to the heroic men and women of the Sri Lankan Defence Forces was enhanced when it was announced that the war in our motherland was at an end. Altogether it was a wonderful end to a wonderful day.
The Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR), based in Melbourne Victoria, has been actively countering the false propaganda and malicious untruths spread about Sri Lanka by the pro LTTE lobby in Australia for over 14 years. While engaged in lobbying the Australian government and media, SPUR has also been carrying out welfare projects to help the defence forces, their families and other victims of LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka.
One of the first SPUR initiatives was to donate 10 Australian ‘Sniffer Dogs’ to assist Sri Lankan security forces in the detection suicide bombs and hidden explosives. Later, through fund raising projects like ‘Sapumal Vyaparaya’, ‘Deya Sarana’ and many others, SPUR provided thousands of dollars in contributions towards the Ranaviru Apparel Factory in Yakkala, the hostel constructed for the use of visiting Ranaviru families, donations of equipment to Ranaviru Sevana, artificial limbs and wheelchairs for the disabled, hospital equipment, emergency packs, foot spray, drinking water and many other items large and small. The patriotic Sri Lankan community in Melbourne always supported these projects.
SPUR also commenced a programme to sponsor children of disabled and deceased soldiers to continue their education. This on-going programme has now been expanded to include children in ‘threatened villages’ victimised by terrorist activities as well as children of other destitute families.
SPUR hopes to continue with its active role in defence welfare programs in the years to come.
Ministry of Defence