MAJOR GENERAL Prasad Samarasinghe assumed office as Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media in the Army this morning (8) during a brief ceremony, held at Media Center for National Security (MCNS). Major General Samarasinghe as Military Spokesman had the rare opportunity of contributing to the initial phase of the onset of the Humanitarian Operations that started off from Mavil Aru in the East during the years 2006-2007.

FOR OVER three decades the very existence of our nation and the peace and prosperity of our people were threatened by the LTTE menace described as one of the deadliest terrorist organizations. When they adamantly rejected our sincere efforts for negotiation we had to use military means to defeat them and launch a humanitarian operation with absolute care to rescue the civilian population held hostage by the terrorists for decades, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.

THE first Psychosocial Centre in the newly resettled areas in the Northern Province, a long-felt need for addressing issues, related to mental well-being of children in war-affected areas, was recently opened at Mallavi Central College, Thunukkai in the Mullaitivu District by Maj. General Kamal Gunaratne, Commander, Security Force Wanni & Competent Authority for IDPs.  This purpose-built Centre for psychosocial activities at Mallavi Central College was.....

THIS IS THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY being able to celebrate without threat of terrorism after 30 years. I am happy to state that the freedom has now dawned to hoist the National Flag proudly across the whole of Sri Lanka as it unfurls in high skies. I am also equally happy to address you from the land where Ven. Wariyapola Sumangala Thero raised our National Flag after bringing down the Union Jack in 1815. Even today I remember the Ven. Members of the Sangha with great veneration. Let me also pay our tribute to members of the Sangha who dedicated themselves for the freedom of the country. 

ON THE eve of the National Day and the opening of “Deyata Kirula” Mega Exhibition in Kandy, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya made an inspection tour around the 9 acre extent area allocated for Army Exhibition Stalls Wednesday (3) evening in order to receive a first hand experience.  Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, accompanied by respective Regimental Commanders and Senior Officers visited each and every stall, produced by all Regiments in the Army and saw for himself how smoothly such exhibits....

MAJOR GENERAL MAHINDA HATHURUSINGHE RSP ndc IG assumed office this morning (3) as Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna after a brief ceremony, attended by religious dignitaries and senior Army and tri-service officers. Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe succeeds Major General L.B.R Mark who assumed duties as Director General Infantry at Army Headquarters. Major General Hathurusinghe on arrival at the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J) was accorded military honours according to traditions.

MAJOR GENERAL R.M.D Rathnayake RWP RSP USP ndu psc, more popularly known as ‘Daya Rathnayake’ assumed duties this morning (2) as 43rd Chief of Staff in the Sri Lanka Army after a brief ceremony. Major General Rathnayake on entering his office at the Army Headquarters observed religious rites before he inaugurated the office by lighting the traditional oil lamp that symbolizes prosperity, wisdom and an auspicious commencement.

A NEW BUS service that covers Kalmadu, Palaisundarapuram, Kidavur, Ichchankulam, Tharanikulam, Pudukulam rural area and terminates at Vavuniya commenced its maiden journey recently after a brief ceremony organized by 611 Brigade under Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni. Using three two-door buses, provided by Sri Lanka Transport Board in response to discussions held with Ministry of Transport....

NORTH & EAST: TROOPS on their search and clear operations on Sunday (31) in the general areas of MARADAMADHU, VISUAMADU, KURUTHIPURAM and ANDANKULAM recovered three detonator cords, two hundred rounds of T-56 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-three anti personnel mines, five detonators, six hand grenades, three claymore mines, ten fuses, one wire cord and one ration tin. Meanwhile, Army troops and Police personnel engaged in a joint search in KERAPOLA area in the East recovered three T-56 weapons and two T-56 magazines, thirty rounds of T-56 ammunition.....

NINETEEN youth and six children, formerly worked for the LTTE and contributed to LTTE terrorist acts received complete rehabilitation and walked back to their parents on Sunday (24) after their rehabilitation process at Thelippalai Rehabilitation Center culminated successfully. Those youth sought the protection of the armed forces during the peak of Wanni humanitarian operations after realizing the vanity of the LTTE brutality and its violence.

TROOPS serving the east continue their civil-oriented welfare projects with the support of the public in respective areas. Troops under 231, 232 and 233 Brigades on the eve of National Day conducted different Shramadana projects and donation of gifts and manual stretches to needy civilians. On Wednesday (3) 231 Brigade troops joined by members of the Civil Defence Forces cleaned up Ruhunuketha Junior School premises. Two officers.....

EARLIER today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, defendants Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam and Sahilal Sabaratnam were sentenced to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release in connection with their efforts to purchase almost $1 million worth of high-powered weaponry for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The sentences were imposed by Chief United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie. In January 2009, Thanigasalam and Sabaratnam pled guilty to conspiring and.....

ARMY troops serving the East continue to give their helping hand to the civilians in the area to revert to their normal life after the war came to and end. 233 Brigade troops considering civilian facilities took steps to renovate the medical center at Mahasenpura though a self-help project on 31st January 2010. Civilians in the area assisted the project. In the meantime, over 90 civilians and more than two dozens of soldiers under the same 233 Brigade conducted........

POVERTY-RIDDEN villagers in Kurukkalmadam area, Batticaloa on 23rd January thronged Kalaimagal Vidyalaya under 234 Brigade in the East and got their eyesight checked and received eye spectacles from a philanthropist. Following an initiative taken by 234 Brigade troops on the instructions of their Brigade Commander Colonel K.D.C.P.J Thilakarathna, the special medical clinic and.....

TROOPS in the East, engaged in welfare works for the benefit of people that come under their command continue to help the needy.  In one such project, the troops of 231 Brigade rehabilitated and repaired an abandoned water supply system including the water pump and a large water tank with a capacity of 12,000 lt built at Sri Dutugemunu Temple, Singhapura. The renovated water supply scheme which can provide drinking water to 41 families in Singhapura was ceremonially opened on 29th January evening with the participation of Lieutenant Colonel.....

THE PROPOSED Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) spearheaded Anuradhapura “Wellness Resort”, a residential complex for rest and recreation of disable soldiers and their families continues to receive further teeth as more and more donors and philanthropists worldwide were lending their helping hand. The concept, mooted by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya is to be a reality soon at a ten-acre land allocation, made by the government in response to the Army’s request for assistance. The surveying of the land has already been done and the architectural approval has been sought from local authorities.

17 SRI LANKA LIGHT INFANTRY (SLLI) troops serving under 234 Brigade organized a donation of books to the students at Unnichchi Tamil Mixed School after troops found many students are from needy families. The parcels containing books, pens and pencils were distributed among 137 students a few days ago during a brief ceremony in the school premises. 

“Viru Daru Vivida Prasangaya”, a children’s variety show organized by Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) to display skills of their own kids was held Saturday (24) evening at the Royal College auditorium, Colombo.The Chief Guest on the occasion was Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa, the President, Seva Vanitha Branch, Ministry of Defence. She was received on her arrival by Mrs. Manjulika Jayasuriya, the President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch.

MORE and more civilians, concerned with numerous sacrifices and invaluable contributions of the War Heroes continue to lend their helping hand to the Army for promotion of living standards of the military personnel. Philanthropists, Mr K.A. Wimal and Mrs G.A.D. Dilani Deepika of Malabe, Kaduwela were kind enough to donate a plot of land at Malabe for construction of a new house to Sergeant N. Atygalle..........

SRI LANKAN community in Hong Kong got-together under four organizations, Organization of Sri Lankan Youth, Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong, Association of Sri Lankan Children in Hong Kong and ‘Veritas’ Listeners’ Foundation in Hong Kong, organized a donation of 144 wheel chairs to the military hospital in appreciation of the sacrifices made by the War Heroes to free the motherland from LTTE terrorism.