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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Army's Own Quarry to Supply Metal for Ongoing Development Projects

 

Adding a new dimension to the multifarious development roles, now being pursued island-wide, the Army on Thursday (27) inaugurated another giant quarry project at Hambantota with the objective of supplying slate metal for construction purposes in the South and elsewhere.

The first of its kind and magnitude saw its birth, subsequent to an observation, made by the Commander of the Army, during a recent visit to the area and found that non-availability of an own quarry for the Army poses many snags, related to ongoing construction sites of the Army since private suppliers often fail to honour deadlines for requirement.   
 
This morning’s (27) inaugural ceremony of the huge quarry, situated in a five-acre land was graced by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya as the Chief Guest.

The quarry, able to produce 30 cubes of slate metal per hour, perhaps the one and only quarry to do so in the country, cost the Army Rs 58 million upon its completion with the installation of metal crushers, adjacent to the quarry itself. Troops of the Sri Lanka Engineers and Sri Lanka Engineer Service installed all the equipment and technical accessories, made available by Chinese experts.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya after unveiling a plaque to inaugurate the project symbolically switched on the metal crusher and signified the formal commencement of operations in the new production centre at the invitation of military officers in charge of the project.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, the prime-mover of the project after discussions with government authorities and Central Environment Authority, managed to secure this plot of state land for this purpose within a short period.

The inaugural ceremony at Hambantota was attended by Major General Crishantha De Silva, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and Colonel of the Engineer Regiment, Major General E.P. de Z Abeysekara, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General G.D.H.K Gunaratne, Adjutant General and several senior officers. Religious observances and traditional oil lamp light followed before the inauguration.

Meanwhile, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya en route to Colombo after inauguration of the new quarry on Thursday (27), made a surprise visit to the ongoing construction project of the Army’s first eco-friendly luxurious holiday resort complex at Palatupana, Yala.

The resort with 10 cabana-type structures is being built under a concept, mooted by the Commander of the Army. This new holiday resort, each cottage with 03 separate rooms, will have all luxurious facilities at a star class hotel.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya during the stopover at the construction site instructed the project workers to prioritize the conservation of the environment with least damage to its natural landscape, etc and complete it as early as possible.