22nd December 2023 15:32:08 Hours
The Sri Lanka Army adding its annual share to the festive season of sharing and caring with compliments set, in heralding the forthcoming Christmas and the dawn of a New Year marked the holy phenomenon by holding its annual Christmas Carols service at Nelum Pokuna auditorium on Thursday (21).
General G.D.H Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd) WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence graced the spectacle as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army together with the Army Christian Fellowship.
The event, conducted in all three major languages - Sinhala, Tamil and English jointly sang odes to the Prince of the Peace, Jesus Christ and heralded his birth while praying for world peace and prosperity.
The day’s customary proceedings of the annual congregation began with the Opening Prayer by Major General B.K.G.L.M Rodrigo RSP psc IG, Secretary of the ACF. The reading of the Christmas message was done by Rev Fr (Dr) Anton Ranjith, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo.
Fomer Commanders of the Army , General C.S Weerasooriya (Rtd) RWP RSP VSV USP and General R.M.D Ratnayake (Rtd) WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc, General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera RSP USP ndu psc, Commander of the Navy, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa RSP VSV USP MSc (MOA) USA MSC (Def Stu) in Mgt MA in IS & S (UK) BSc (Def Stu) MIM (SL) AMIE (SL) rcds psc Commander of the Air Force, Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu, Chief of Staff, Major General S.P.A.I.M.B Samarakoon Hdmc Lsc, Deputy Chief of Staff and a distinguished gathering of invitees attended the seasonal arrangement.
Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, the spouse of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Janaki Liyanage, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit, spouses of Senior Officers were among other invitees to the occasion.
The Carols that reverberated adorned the festive atmosphere, themed on ‘A King is Born’ joined by choirs of St. Joseph’s College, the Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, St. Sebastian’s College and De Mazenod College in addition to Army choirs. On the guidelines given by Major General K.P.S.A Fernando RWP RSP ndu, Chairman, Army Christian Fellowship (ACF), members of the ACF, together with Major General B.K.G.L.M Rodrigo RSP psc IG, Secretary to the ACF finalized the event under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Army Chaplain, Rev Fr (Dr) Noel Dias.
Popular and seasonal hits, like ‘Namo Mariane’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘Once in Royal’, ‘Christmas Lullaby’, ‘Jingle Bells’, etc backed by Army choirs rent the air before distinguished guests exchanged greetings and compliments of the season.
