SUPPORT RANAVIRU FAMILY COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR A WORTHY CAUSE

RFCSS has done a yeomen service for the  Ranaviru families 

The Ranaviru Family Counselling and Support Services (RFCSS) is an organisation affiliated with the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers (ARFRO). The Chairman of RFCSS at present is Surg. Rear Admiral N E L W Jayasekera.
The membership of RFCSS consists of families of servicemen killed in action during the conflict over three decades that plagued Sri Lanka. Together, they are identified as ‘Ranaviru families’, and presently, the RFCSS has a membership of over 3000 Ranaviru families. The organisation has established six branches in Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Colombo Galle, and Matara. Many more Ranaviru families have requested membership. New plans have been drawn to accommodate maximum numbers by establishing more branches across Sri Lanka.

The parent organisation ARFRO was formed in Sri Lanka in 1996 on the initiative of General Deshamanya J E D Perera VSV, bearing on his association with other retired Flag Rank Officers of Commonwealth Armies. Since its formation, membership in the Association is now 295. All retired Officers of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka who held the rank of Brigadier, Commodore, Air Commodore, or above at the time of retirement are eligible to be members of the Association. Presently ARFRO is chaired by Air Chief Marshal G P Bulathsinghala RWP RSP VSV USP, a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force. You may visit www.arfro.org for details.
The RFCSS was formed in 1998 with the approval of the Ministry of Defense and the three Service Commanders. It was formed to achieve the following objectives covering the Economic, Social, and Cultural needs of Ranaviru families:

•  To rebuild the confidence and morale of the Ranaviru families.
•  Address their grievances and counsel them to find solutions in liaison with the three Services.
•  Look into and assist in the welfare and education of Ranaviru families and 
•  To provide opportunities to interact with other Ranaviru families, share thoughts and experiences, and re- structure their future.

 RFCSS conducts the following activities to achieve the above objectives. 
Counselling, Educational Scholarships - Be a facilitator, Organizing educational workshops: Due to the increasing demand to obtain membership by large numbers of War Widows; the following plans are considered.

•  Establishing four more branches
•  Improving the database of Ranaviru families and their needs. 
•  Enhancing welfare facilities and activities to cover the larger segment. Provide more educational assistance to Ranaviru children.

The three Services have been the most supportive in assisting in the administration of the RFCSS. The staff provided by the Army attends day-to-day administration and organising activities under the guidance of the Chairman. The other two services assist as and when needed. Presently RFCSS activities are carried out for the most part through funding and contributions made by a few donors and well-wishers. However, plans to enhance activities in the future need more funding essentially. We most earnestly request you to assist us by joining in any of the following.

•  By participating in our counselling programmes and workshops as resource personnel.
•  By organising training in self-employment projects.
•  By undertaking to provide full or partial scholarships.
•  By undertaking to sponsor meals at field visits/workshops.

In the past, RFCSS has done a yeomen service towards the families of those fallen heroes. We feel that the well-being of these families is our responsibility, as those departed heroes have made the supreme sacrifice to usher peace in our motherland. We are committed to assisting in whatever way possible to continue to look into their welfare and add a little comfort to their lives. Towards this end, we plan to develop the activities further and widen our scope to include more families. We remember with gratitude the assistance given by those patriotic friends, donors, and well-wishers in the past. We seek your generous contributions and continued support in this noble endeavour.

The staff provided by the Army attends day-to-day administration and organising activities