Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana undertook the village renovations project in line with the 70th Anniversary of the Air Force under the “Gama Samaga Pilisandara” programme conducted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Kanugahawewa, Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura on December 30, 2020.
The Chief Incumbent of the KanugahawewaAbinawarama Viharaya, the Kanugahawewa Grama Niladari Officer and residents of Kanugahawewa discussed their needs with the Divisional Secretary and made a proposal on what was needed by the people of Kanugahawewa.
Based on the proposal by the Divisional Secretary, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has planned to develop Kanugahawewa as a model village together with the Air Force. The project is conducted under the guidance of the the Air Force Commander who appointed a Steering Committee led by SLAF Director Ground Operations Air Vice Marshal Camillus Labrooy.
Other members of this committee include Air Commodore Udula Wijesinghe and Senior Staff Officer of the Directorate of Civil Engineering and the Base Commander of SLAF Base Vavuniya Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva.
Kanugahawewa houses 314 families and 942 civilians. Kanugahawewa Abinawarama Viharaya, Kanugahawewa Vidyalaya, houses for those who cannot afford to build a house and many other development projects will be facilitated under the project.
Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana placed the cornerstones on January for the Teachers’ Quarters of the Kanugahawewa Primary School, a Bell Tower at the Kanugahawewa Abinawarama Viharaya and for 10 houses, which will be constructed during the Phase 1 of the project. The Commander symbolically commenced the construction of 13 km Electric Fence to protect the villagers from elephants. This construction has been undertaken by SLAF Station Morawewa under the leadership of the Commanding Officer Group Captain Hiyumal Dharmadasa. Director Civil Engieering Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe and Acting Northern Air Commander Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake participated.