A special discussion on the proposed merger of the National Defence Fund and the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Fund was held at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara.
The meeting focused on appointing an expert committee to examine the feasibility of bringing together the National Defence Fund, the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Fund, the ‘Ranaviru Seva Fund’ and other welfare programmes for members of the tri-forces and related services.
The committee is expected to study the financial, legal and administrative aspects of the proposed merger.
The proposed integration aims to streamline the distribution of welfare benefits and expand the number of war veterans and their family members eligible to receive assistance through these funds.
The meeting also discussed possible mechanisms and institutional arrangements to provide financial relief to war veterans to help them settle loans obtained from financial institutions.
