{
  "id": 12262204,
  "title": "Govt. plans to amalgamate NDF and ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Fund",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/govt-plans-to-amalgamate-ndf-and-api-wenuwen-api-fund",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T00:01:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/govt-plans-to-amalgamate-ndf-and-api-wenuwen-api-fund/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Government officials are considering merging the National Defence Fund and the 'Api Wenuwen Api' Fund, according to discussions held at the Presidential Secretariat. The Defense Ministry announced that these talks took place under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekara. The main objective appears to be appointing an expert committee to evaluate the feasibility of integrating these funds with other special welfare programs for the Tri-Services.\n\nOfficials believe such integration would streamline assistance provided by these funds, while simultaneously expanding eligibility to include more members of the armed forces and their families. Furthermore, there is potential for offering financial aid to armed forces personnel who are seeking to repay loans from financial institutions. Initial conversations have also delved into identifying practical mechanisms and an organizational structure to facilitate this support.",
  "summary": "Discussions are underway to integrate the National Defence Fund and the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ Fund. The Defence Ministry said yesterday that this was discussed at the Presidential Secretariat, under the Chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekara. The Ministry said the focus was on the appointment of an expert committee to […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Government officials plan to merge National Defence Fund and Api Wenuwen Api Fund.",
    "Expert committee to evaluate feasibility of integrating funds with welfare programs.",
    "Integration aims to streamline assistance and expand eligibility for armed forces members."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}