Feb 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka Army has saved around Rs. 1.5 billion for the government last year through providing labor for various development projects carried out by the government, Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasekara said.

Development projects completed with the labor of army personnel included beautification of cities, especially the Sri Lankan capital city Colombo, renovation and construction of sports stadiums and maintaining sports grounds.

According to the Spokesman, the Army has provided labor for over 20 projects.

Ministry of Defence and Urban Development renovated and converted the old Race Course buildings in Colombo into a modern shopping complex while preserving the colonial architecture at a cost of 125 million rupees using the labor force of the Army.

Army soldiers have provided labor to the value of Rs. 110 million for the project to construct the SAARC Cultural Center, which cost Rs. 907 million.

Army has also provided labor to the value of Rs. 492 million for a construction project of the Medical Faculty that cost Rs. 1.477 billion.

In addition to major development projects the peacetime Sri Lanka Army is engaged in construction of houses for the resettled families in North and East and houses for disabled soldiers.

Recently, the Army troops undertook to build a house for the family of Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan housemaid executed by the Saudi Arabian authorities.