21 August 2017 11:00 am Views - 1496
The foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed ‘Seneha Siyapatha Gammanaya’ at Kotapola, Matara District, initiated by Sri Lanka’s premier telecommunication services provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, was held under the auspices of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Defence Ministry Additional Secretary (Administration) W.A. Kulasuriya, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Marketing Officer Amali Nanayakkara, Disaster Management Ministry Media Secretary Champika Wijesuriya, Kotapola Divisional Secretary G. Amarasinghe and Sri Lanka Army 58th Division Commanding Officer Brigadier A.M.S.D. Atapattu also graced the foundation stone laying ceremony as special invitees.
A total of 37 houses will be constructed under Seneha Siyapatha 2017 at a cost of Rs.57.5 million. Civil construction services will be contributed at no cost by the Defence Ministry with participation from Tri-forces personal of Sri Lanka. The programme mustered Rs.16.53 million through the generosity of Dialog’s customers, whilst Dialog Axiata added Rs.33.47 million and RIL Property PLC, also made a kind donation amounting to Rs.7.5 million to raise the ‘Seneha Siyapatha’ fund to Rs.57.5 million.
Under Seneha Siyapatha 2017, 25 houses will be built in Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura District and a further 12 houses will be built in Kotapola, Matara District. The houses are constructed as per specifications given by the NBRO (National Building Research Organisation) under the aegis of the Ministry of Disaster Management and the project is managed by Dialog Axiata PLC.
“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our customers for supporting this worthy cause during the challenging time the country faced this year. This donation is yet again a true testament of the generosity of our subscribers, and we are pleased to have partnered with the Ministry of Defence and The Ministry of Disaster Management to provide permanent homes to those affected by the disaster,” Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe said.
The agreement for ‘Seneha Siyapatha 2017’ was signed between the stakeholders, Ministry of Defence, Dialog Axiata PLC and The Ministry of Disaster Management at a media conference held on 16 August, 2017, under the guidance of Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
The Seneha Siyapatha Fund was initiated by Dialog Axiata for the first time on 20 May 2016, in line with the mission to serve communities who are affected by natural disasters. In Seneha Siyapatha 2016, 30 houses were constructed in the Kegalle district for victims of the Aranayake Samasara landslide. Dialog Axiata PLC, appealed to its subscribers to donate Rs.50 for relief operations via SMS (Short Message Service), Star Points and eZ Cash following the natural disasters. Dialog tripled the donation by adding Rs.100, thereby donating Rs.150 to the project fund.