For the first time in Sri Lanka a special group of dedicated,
disabled soldiers headed by former commando Asoka Dayaratna
came forward to form the Association of Disabled Ex - Service
Personnel in 1994. The inaugural President Asoka Dayaratna continues
to be the President up to date through his untiring efforts
of devoting his energy and time for the victimized service personnel.
He is 48 years old today with his right hand amputated and severely
handicapped in his left leg with injuries suffered in the counter
attack on the LTTE militants when they were fleeing after massacring
innocent civilians at Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura.
The Association better known as “ADEP" got help,
advice and guidance from Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) and Swedish International |
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| Development Agency (SIDA) Other than that they have to depend
on the membership fees and few donations from well wishers. |
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| The main task of ADEP is to safeguard the benefits
and rights of members while helping them to raise their social
standards. Even though originally the membership was limited
to disabled service personnel in the 3 Forces and Police the
doors were opened later to the family members of the deceased
and disappeared personnel also. |
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Although we are responsible in helping our members to get
their Compensation, Insurance and Pensions payments expedited
we still have many a problem which has to be found separate
solutions. Helping the children in their getting better schools,
obtaining telephone facilities on reduced rates with priority
basis, finding suitable jobs for those who could work has been
some of the welfare work ADEP has been involved.
Recently we got involved in Child Welfare in "Ranaviru
Villages" with the support of "Save the Children -Norway"
organization.At the moment we have selected 5 such villages
out of seventeen namely Salawa, Dombagoda, Ibbagamuwa, Mirijjawila,
Lunugamvehera in Colombo, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Hambanthota
Dstricts . We are looking after the welfare of the children
in these
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| villages mainly developing Pre-School and Library facilities.
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