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(By Lieutenant Duminda Senarath)
2026-10-18
When the guns fell silent in May 2009, Sri Lanka faced a new, quieter battle — how to care for the hundreds of young soldiers who had given their eyes, limbs and bodies to secure peace for the nation. The answer came as a national promise named *”Brave Hearts.”*
The Brave Hearts project was launched by the Army Seva Vanitha Unit ( ASVU) under the guidance of the Sri Lanka Army with the prime objective of providing lifelong care, dignity and a home for totally dependent war heroes who require therapeutic recuperation and rehabilitation for the remainder of their precious lives.
That noble concept became reality on 17 September 2009, when the first cornerstone was laid on a 5-acre land patch adjoining the serene Nuwara Wewa in Anuradhapura. Named ‘Abhimansala-1′ — meaning _’an abode to live with pride’ — this state-of-the-art wellness resort was vested in war heroes on 26 July 2011 as a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to those warriors who sacrificed their tomorrow for our today.
Built as a resort-type wellness centre, Abhimansala-1 houses 52 differently-abled warriors who need continuous therapy and rehabilitation because their home fronts would not be able to provide the same sophisticated facility. It was built in an eco-friendly, peaceful environment with single-story cottages that do not give inmates the feeling of being in a hospital.
Recent statistics show there are more than 300 totally disabled soldiers with multiple injuries — spinal cord injuries, brain damage, amputations, impaired hearing, vision and speech. Over 90 percent are wheelchair-bound or bed-ridden, in the prime of their youth. Their home infrastructure cannot provide the specialized nursing care they require.
The success of Abhimansala-1 led to two more sanctuaries. *Abhimansala-2* was established in a serene environment bordering the Haliela Wewa in Kamburupitiya, while *Abhimansala-3* was opened on 25 April 2014 at Pangolla, Kurunegala, on the banks of Deduru Oya overlooking Bathalagoda Lake. Built on 10 acres, Abhimansala-3 provides lifelong care for 50 more dependent war heroes from the North-Western Province. It is equipped with eight villas, three cottages, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities, swimming pool, gymnasium, medical laboratory, dining hall, indigenous medicine unit and residential quarters for staff, managed by a dedicated medical team under the Directorate of Rehabilitation.
Today, the three Abhimansala wellness resorts stand under the Directorate of Rehabilitation of the Sri Lanka Army, alongside Ranaviru Sevana, Ranaviru Apparels and Mihindu Seth Medura at Attidiya. They provide comprehensive care — medical consultations, prosthetic and orthotic support, physiotherapy, mental health counselling, meditation campaigns, counselling programmes and aesthetic skills development.
This enduring commitment continues. On 29-30 August 2025, the Deputy Minister of Defence visited Abhimansala-3 and Abhimansala-1, personally engaging with residents and reviewing operations to elevate the standard of care. In 2024-2025, private sector partners refurbished villas originally donated in 2011, providing painting, furnishings, electrical upgrades and modern amenities to create a warmer, more comfortable environment.
As the 26th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army visited Abhimansala-I, Anuradhapura, immediately after assuming duties on 1 August 2026 to meet rehabilitating war heroes, he reaffirmed the Army’s unbreakable bond — that those who sacrificed their tomorrow for our today will never be forgotten.
Abhimansala is not just a building. It is the living embodiment of the Brave Hearts promise that Sri Lanka will honour its defenders with dignity, compassion and unwavering support, not just for a day, but for the remainder of their precious lives.
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