06th January 2023 21:03:05 Hours
20 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and 18 Gemunu Watch troops of the 121 Brigade under the 12 Division of the Security Force HQ – Central (SFHQ-C) threw their full weight behind a national reforestation programme inside the Yala sancturary, launched by the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation where troops joined hands with others to plant some 60,000 saplings in 600 hectares within the 45 days.
The project got to a start on 13 December and is scheduled to end by the end of this month (January 2023) covering areas, such as Yala, Wattegama, Kebiliththa and adjoining forest reserves. On the directions given by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army to the SFHQ-C, Major General Mohan Rathnayake, Commander, SF-Central mobilized troops for this worthy cause in close coordination with officials in the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and its Department.
Endangered saplings, like Kumbuk, Tamarind, Mahogany, Burma teak, Telambu, Kayan and Ceylon Ironwood were among those species that were planted by the troops during those 22 days.
A contingent of 82 troops of the 20 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and the 18 Gemunu Watch Regiment completed their assigned task within 22 days by Wednesday (4) in cooperation with participants of the office of the Divisional Forest Officer in Moneragala Mr Prabath Bandara, Regional Forest Officer, Mr L. Sameera and their staff.
This ongoing mammoth project is supported by the General Officer Commanding 12 Infantry Division, Major General Mihindu Perera and Brigadier Janaka Udowita, Commander, 121 Infantry Brigade closely supervises it with the support of respective Battalions and their Commanding Officers.
