‘Nandimithra Gama’ with 309 new houses was also erected as a fitting tribute to the memory of the legendary giant, Nandimithra who had lived in that area in Vavuniya, thousands of years ago as per historic chronicles.

The Commander of the Army handed over the keys of 15 new houses symbolically to those beneficiaries after a huge statue of the giant, Nandimithra, meticulously crafted by Army and other sculptors, was unveiled at the location. Religious offerings to the new Buddha statue preceded the ceremony.  Thereafter the Commander opened the museum in the premises.

It all happened several months ago when the Commander of the Army during an inspection tour of Army projects, inquired from the Wanni Commander whether the displaced people could be resettled in this location too as a tribute to the memory of the most senior disciple, Nandimithra of the King Dutugemunu.

Major General Perera readily undertaking the challenge of making this conceptual notion of the Commander a reality, harnessed the support of all Army Regiments, Divisions, Brigades and Battalions, who were entrusted the responsibility of building ‘one’ new house by each unit in the proposed location, enabling most of the displaced Wanni Sinhalese to resume life in the area again.

The new Nandimithra Gama with all public amenities, comprises a community hall, library, temple, museum, market place, playground, dispensary, etc and the troops serving Divisions, Brigades and Battalions of the SFHQ-W alone, came forward to pocket out their own resources and money voluntarily for completion of nearly 100 new houses out of the total of 309.

During the brief ceremony, the Commander addressing the gathering  spoke of the importance of peace and reconciliation for the country’s stability.