In appreciation of the courage and perseverance of Corporal Abeysundara R who could imprint his name in the Asian record book bringing fame and glory to Sri Lanka, a special project was initiated by the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit under the instruction and directives of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, to renovate his house to a fully constructed house. The project was successfully completed under the guidance of the Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Charmini Pathirana.
Corporal Abeysundara R embarked on the record-breaking endeavor on 10 April 2021 from Talaimannar and swam up to Rameshwaran in India and returned back to Thalaimannar on 11 April 2021 breaking the Asian Long Distance Swimming Record. He swam covering a distance of 59.3 Km in 28 Hours, 19 Minutes and 43 Seconds setting a new Sri Lankan Record and renewing the 50-year-old record of V.S. Kumar Anandan which was set in 1971 by swimming the Palk Strait in 51 hours.
Considering the glory brought to the Nation and SLAF, the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit completed his meagerly built house as a special project allocating the same amount of funds which are originally spent for a fully constructed house in the view of uplifting the living standards of this Junior Non Commissioned Officer and his family.
The House Warming Ceremony was held today (30 January 2022) at Jambugahawaththa, Kakanadura. On behalf of the Commander of the Air Force, the fully completed house was handed over to Corporal Abeysundara R by the Air Secretary, Air Commodore Kithsiri Leelaratne.
The construction was carried out by SLAF Station Koggala. The overall project was completed under the supervision of the Directorate of Civil Engineering and Commanding Officer of the SLAF Station Koggala, Group Captain Thilina Rajapaksha.
President Seva Vanitha Unit SLAF Station Koggala, Mrs. Uthpala Rajapaksha, a cross section of Officers and Other Ranks from the Station Koggala and representatives from SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit including Secretary Seva Vanitha Unit Wing Commander Suresh Fernando were also present at the ceremony.
The House Warming Ceremony held in accordance of the health guidelines which have been issued in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
