Winner of Ranaviru Real Star Powered by Dialog Receives Home from President

His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ceremoniously opens the new home Dialog Ranaviru Real Star, Gunner Sampath Sri Palansuriya and wife received, whilst Hon. Ruwan Wijewardhana, State Minister of Defence and Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC looks on.

His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic presenting the Dialog Ranaviru Real Star, Gunner Sampath Sri Palansuriya with a letter of ownership to a house, whilst (L-R) Hon. Ruwan Wijewardhana, State Minister of Defence, Sunil Samaraweera – Secretary, State Ministry of Defence, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC and Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC looks on.

The awarding of a new home to the winner of the Ranaviru Real Star Mission-V powered by Dialog, an aesthetic mission directed by the Ministry of Defence for the war heroes of the Tri-forces, was held under the patronage of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presence of Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe Minister of Ports & Shipping, Hon. Ruwan Wijewardhana, State Minister of Defence and Hon. Palitha Thewarapperuma, Deputy Minister of Sustainability & Wildlife and Regional Development at the Prabuddhagama Ranaviru Village, Madurawala, Horana on the 13th of August 2018.

Kapila Waidyaratne PC, Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Sunil Samaraweera – Secretary, State Ministry of Defence, Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne - Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake - Army Commander, Vice Admiral S.S Ranasinghe – Navy Commander, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathi – Air Force Commander, W.A. Kolasuriya – Additional Secretary (Administration) Ministry of Defence, Dissna Jayasinghe - Divisional Secretary – Madurawala, H.P.D. Hewage – Assistant Director – Military Welfare, Ministry of Defence, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC and Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer also graced the occasion as special invitees.

Ranaviru Real Star Mission-V is the fifth consecutive show organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Dialog Axiata PLC. The talent show provides a platform for Tri-forces to showcase their musical talents and win the grand prize of a Rs. 20 million house, with funding supported by Dialog and labour extended by the Sri Lanka Army. Ranaviru Real Star Gunner Sampath Sri Palansuriya of the Sri Lanka Army, clinched the first place of the Ranaviru Real Star Mission-V in September 2016, claiming his ownership of the coveted title and prize. The 34 finalists selected from over 4,000 contestants also received homes funded by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Hon. Ruwan Wijewardhana, State Minister of Defence said "The Dialog Ranaviru Real Star provides a platform for our war heroes to showcase their talent – apart from the great service extended to the country. I would like to thank all the participants of the talent show and congratulate the Dialog Ranaviru Real Star Gunner Sampath Sri Palansuriya of the Sri Lanka Army, who is now the owner of a new home."

"Dialog has partnered the initiative with the Ministry of Defence since its inception in 2012 with Mission-I. We like to thank the Ministry of Defence and the Tri-forces for facilitating this great initiative for over five years." Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC said.