President Maithripala Sirisena officially launched the ‘Virusara’ Privilege Card Scheme and awarded hundred scholarships, each worth Rs 50,000/= to war-affected children of North & East and War Hero families at Temple Trees on 25th January 2016.
The ‘Virusara’ Card, conceptualized by State Minister of Defence, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene provides a wide assortment of varying benefits in more than 45 state and private sector services, such as tangible discounts on medicine, food varieties, transport, hospital treatment, loans, educational courses, etc and recognizes the invaluable services of War Heroes including those disabled on priority basis.
Under the first phase over 3 lakhs of family members of fallen War Heroes and disabled receive these benefits. Scholarships are provided to war-affected Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala students in the North & East. A segment of those scholarships also go to children of War Heroes families.