The ‘Api Wenuwen Api Wemu’ housing project for Sri Lanka’s armed forces received a massive boost in Italy, where a sum of 156,930 Euros was collected through Variety Entertainment shows, featuring a 19-member Musical Troupe drawn from the Armed Forces.

The second show which was held in Milan, netted 98,000 Euros which was far beyond the expectations of the organisers. The unprecedented crowd which thronged the Alcatraz Hall, was a tremendous exhibition of national fervour in appreciation of what the Armed Forces are doing to liberate Mother Lanka from terrorism.

Normally in Italy, where many Sri Lankan artists perform, the maximum gate collection would be around 10,000 Euros.

The shows were organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy with the help of all Sri Lankan organisations there under the leadership of Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, PC and the Coordinator, Minister Counsellor Chandrapala Liyanage. All Sri Lankans in Italy set aside their various differences and rallied round the Lion Flag clearly demonstrating their love for the Armed Forces and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Sri Lanka Embassy, in order to ensure absolute accountability, has launched a website apiwenuwenapi.it so that all collections, donations and contributions will be reflected in it.

The first segment of the tour was at Verona in Tatroalva, the second in Milan at the Alcatraz Hall and on April 11, at Piyaso Danta in Napoli.

Ambassador Warnakulasuriya at the beginning, set a target of 200,000 Euros from the ‘Api Wenuwen Api Wemu’ programme. This was considered by many as a Utopian goal, but with the support of the Sri Lankan community, especially the Temples and the Catholic Church, the Embassy was able to win tremendous support for ‘Api Wenuwen Api Wemu’ and as expected the Utopian goal of the Ambassador would not be a distant dream.

It is expected to collect 200,000 Euros, which is Rupees 32 Million, sufficient to build 40 houses. Once the target is achieved, the Embassy said it would request Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to have a special enclave called ‘Itali Ranawiru Gama’ in the Ranawiru Village. Once this is done, the Sri Lankan community in Italy will support the occupants of those 40 houses in many other matters including education of children.