Header

Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Army's Own Service Stations Begin Servicing on Commander's Directives

Two new vehicle Service Stations, set up at Saliyapura (Anuradhapura) and Kankesanthurai by Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (DEME) of the Army, as part of the Service Station establishment project, directed by the Commander of the Army, were opened early this week during two brief ceremonies at respective places.

Sri Lanka Army, though possessive of a big fleet of different light and heavy vehicles, was compelled to incur heavy costs for regular servicing of vehicles outside since the Army did not have adequate facilities to conduct such servicing work on its own within the organization.

Upon close observation of this much-needed requirement in the Army, the Commander directed DEME authorities to install at least 12 Service Stations of this nature in Jaffna, Varani, Paranthan, Kokavil, Mullaittivu, Oddusudan, Mannar, Welioya, Saliyapura, Punani, Kosgama and Panagoda areas covering several Security Forces Headquarters across the country.

As a result, on 13th March 2012, the Commander of the Army, inaugurated the novel project after laying the cornerstone for eruption of the first Service Station at Mannar during a brief ceremony.

As at present, installation of 6 such Service Stations in Army formations has been completed and work on the remaining new 6 Stations is to be finished by mid November, according to the DEME.

On October 1, the first Service Station, installed at Saliyapura by 5 Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) with the support of Engineers Service Regiment (ESR) was opened by Major General E.P.De Z Abeysekara, Deputy Chief of Staff and Master General of Ordnance during a brief ceremony.

Just a few days, prior to Saliyapura opening, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) ceremonially opened the new Service Station, established at Kankesanthurai under the SFHQ-J and manned by 4 SLEME troops.

With the establishment of own Service Stations, the Army is able to subject its vehicle fleet to routine and regular servicing to ensure absence of recurrent premature failures and engine troubles in all the vehicles while promoting capacity efficiency of the fleet, the DEME maintained.

Both brief opening ceremonies commenced after traditional oil lamp lighting and commencement of maiden service of an Army vehicle. In Kankesanthurai, Major General Hathurusinghe planted a tree sapling in the complex soon after the opening and symbolized the memory of inauguration of the new service in the Army.