A special discussion on the proposed integration of the National Defence Fund and the “Api Wenuwen Api” Fund with the Ranaviru Seva Fund and other welfare programmes for Tri-Service personnel has been held at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

The meeting focused primarily on the appointment of an expert committee to examine the feasibility of integrating the funds and welfare programmes currently operating for members of the armed forces and their families, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The proposed study will assess the financial, legal and administrative implications of such an integration. The initiative is expected to streamline the provision of welfare assistance while potentially expanding the number of service personnel and family members eligible for benefits.

The meeting also considered the possibility of providing financial assistance to members of the armed forces to settle loans obtained from financial institutions. Preliminary discussions were held on identifying suitable mechanisms and establishing an institutional framework to implement such a programme.

Senior officials representing the Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara, the Ranaviru Seva Authority, the Attorney General’s Department, the Department of National Budget, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence participated in the discussion.

No final decision on the proposed integration or the loan-assistance mechanism was announced, with further examination of the financial, legal and administrative aspects expected to precede any implementation, according to the Defence Ministry.