19th December 2021 17:18:47 Hours
The Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa on Sunday (19) wore ceremonial garbs one more time and adorned the shoulders of 316 more brave sons and daughters of the country with insignia of the President’s Commission when they proudly passed out in a glittering spectacle after completion of their military training amidst greetings and best wishes of the highest security arsenal of the island, HE the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and the cream of Senior Tri Service Officers.
The day’s itinerary for the 96th Passing out Parade (POP) commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, HE the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces who was accorded a drive past Guard Turnout at the entrance to the SLMA premises.
Afterwards, HE the President was invited to the SLMA War Memorial for wreath-laying in the company of the Commander of the Army and the SLMA, Commandant, Brigadier Nalinda Niyangoda before the Parade honoured the President in conformity with military traditions. Not forgetful of invaluable past sacrifices of fallen War Heroes, the Chief Guest for the occasion laid a floral tribute to the SLMA war memorial in the premises at first and paid his solemn respect to their memory after he was warmly received by the Secretary Defence and Commander of the Army on arrival, together with the SLMA Commandant.
The Passing out Parade (PoP) ceremony of those 316 Officer Cadets, including Ladies, considered as the most eagerly event of their career after sustained training according to their intakes assumed greater significance with the presence of the Head of State as the Chief Guest and was dignified by the presence of the top brass of the country's security apparatus.
As the Chief Guest was entering the parade square, precisely by colourfully-dressed Army bands with their rhythmic beats and associated formalities, heralded the formal inauguration of the most central segment of the commissioning ceremony where new Cadet Officers, received their symbolic and ornamental swords as graduation from the day’s Chief Guest, HE the President and other dignitaries, symbolizing the official commissioning.
The climax of the day’s event got underway then with the presentation of the salute to the Chief Guest by new graduates in the colourful parade.
The parade, commanded by Major R.A.A Ranawaka, together with Captain B.A.P.D.A Bamunusinghe as the Parade’s Second in Command and the Academy Sergeant Major (ASM), Warrant Officer-1 W.P.D.R Weerasinghe was staged in a spectacular setting, cooled by salubrious climatic conditions. Sunday’s ceremony at Diyatalawa saw 73 Officer Cadets in the Regular Intake 89, 13 Officer Cadets in the Regular Intake 90, 150 Officer Cadets in the Regular Intake 89 Bravo (Intake 32,33,35 of Kotelawala Defence University), 1 Lady Officer Cadet in Regular Lady Officer Cadets Intake 18 (A), 60 Officer Cadets in the Volunteer Officer Cadet Intake 61 (V), 15 Lady Officer Cadets in the Volunteer Lady Officer Cadet Intake 17 thus received their prestigious commissions before they are formally deployed for service across the island as 2nd Lieutenants.
Those Cadet Officers who underwent the SLMA training upon receipt of their commissions in the formal PoP will take up duties around the country to serve as dedicated sons for nation-building challenges and tasks as true protectors and defenders of the nation.
A brief address by the Chief Guest to the occasion a few minutes later culminated the first leg of the day’s ceremony.
All the graduates had the rare distinction of posing for a group photograph with the Chief Guest, HE the President, Secretary Defence and the Commander of the Army on the same occasion. HE the President added memories of his visit to this military academy by planting a sapling in the compound. Before his departure from the SLMA premises, HE the President was honoured awarding a special memento and inviting him to leave his compliments in the Visitors' Book at the SLMA Cadet Mess.
The First Lady, Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa, Chairperson, Ministry of Defence - Seva Vanitha Unit (MoD-SVU), Mrs Chithrani Gunaratne, Major General Vikum Liyanage, Chief of Staff, Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Channa Weerasuriya, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs Sujeewa Nelson were also among the invitees. Retired military veterans, Senior Officers, parents and well-wishers, relatives of Cadet Officers and distinguished invitees witnessed the day's colourful main highlights.
Following are the Best achievers in respective Intakes :
Regular Officer Cadet Intake 89 :
Award for the First in Order of Merit : Battalion Under Officer C.M.M Rukshan
Award for the Sword of the Honour : Battalion Under Officer C.M.M Rukshan
Regular Officer Cadet Intake 89 B:
Award for the First in Order of Merit: Platoon Under Officer R.T.L.A Silva
Award for the Sword of the Honour : Company Under Officer H.E.A Ranjula
Regular Officer Cadet Intake 90:
Award for the First in Order of Merit: Company Under Officer T.R.C.D Ratnayake
Award for the Sword of the Honour : Company Under Officer T.R.C.D Ratnayake
Volunteer Officer Cadet Intake 60 :
Award for the First in Order of Merit: Officer Cadet A.M.D.T.N Perera
Award for the Sword of the Honour : Officer Cadet A.M.D.T.N Perera
Volunteer Lady Officer Cadet Intake 17 :
Award for the First in Order of Merit: Platoon Under Officer H.A.T Prabashwari
Honoury Stick for the Best Foreign Officer Cadet Award :
Platoon Under Officer A Adam of Republic of Maldives
