SLAF develops Kanugahawewa

Acting on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the SLAF has undertaken a special project to develop Kanugahawewa village in Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura. Based on the proposal made by the Divisional Secretary, the Urban Development Authority has planned to develop Kanugahawewa as a model village with the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The project is being implemented under the guidance of the Commander of the Air Force who appointed a Steering Committee led by the Director Ground Operations of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Camillus Labrooy. Other members of this committee are Air Commodore Udula Wijesinghe, the Senior Staff Officer of the Directorate of Civil Engineering and the Base Commander of SLAF Base Vavuniya, Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva.

The Kanugahawewa Village is home to 314 families and approximately 942 civilians. Based on the needs of those in Kanugahawewa, renovation of the Kanugahawewa Abinawarama Viharaya, Kanugahawewa Vidyalaya, houses for those who cannot afford to build a house on their own and many other development projects have been undertaken by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The SLAF said: “Signifying the commencement of the development project of this Model Village, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana placed the cornerstones today (28 January 2021) for the Teachers Quarters of the Kanugahawewa Primary School, a Bell Tower at the Kanugahawewa Abinawarama Viharaya and for ten (10) Houses which will be constructed during stage 1. The Commander also symbolically commenced the construction of 13 Km long Electric Fence which will in time protect the villagers from the elephant threat they face at present. This construction has been undertaken by SLAF Station Morawewa under the leadership of the Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hiyumal Dharmadasa. Today’s events were also attended by the Director Civil Engieering, Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe and the Acting Northern Air Commander, Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake.