12th April 2020 23:48:59 Hours
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva in his capacity as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) during his sojourn in the peninsula did not forget to meet All Ranks at the Palaly Air Force base on Sunday (12) and share New Year greetings with all of them. On his arrival at the venue, the visiting CDS was welcomed by Group Captain Asela Jayasekara and Senior Air Force Officers.
The CDS afterwards addressed them, appreciated their dedicated roles and extended best wishes in the wake of the dawn of the New Year. .
During his address to airmen, he quipped: “Your dedicated and invaluable services at this critical stage of our history are greatly admired by HE the President, Hon Prime Minister, Secretary Defence and all Sri Lankans when the whole world remains crippled and threatened with this pandemic. Reposing faith in us, HE the President, our Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces appointed me as the Head of the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak and handed over this challenging task to the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and the Air Force since we have defended the Nation whenever its very existence was under threat. Though our lives have changed now, and we cannot gather together with our near and dear ones in this New Year season, we can certainly be a proud citizen of the country by letting everyone else to be healthy by behaving ourselves well. To heal the Nation, you need equally to be healthy and it is therefore imperative that you take all precautions against the transmission of COVID-19 among all of you in keeping with strict health guidelines”
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva further stated he appreciates and admires hard work done by Air Force troops during this critical time by reminding them of how armed forces established quarantine centres within a very short period of time around the island. “Then our second task was searching the affected patients and the people who associated with victims. There I must really appreciate the dedication of the Air Force troops who joined hands with Army troops to accomplish the task. Next, we all had the responsibility of looking after them. Up to now, we the Tri-Forces have performed our part well as one Nation. In addition, let me also thank the manner how Health authorities and the Police supported us from the beginning of this operation,” he announced.
The CDS further stated the kind cooperation of the Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sumangala Dias made our tasks easier and he stood by the Army all the time. Air Force troops too improvised disinfection chambers and have contributed their maximum support to this national task and in order to prevent the spread of this deadly epidemic. “When compared to other countries, Sri Lanka’s role is highly commendable. For this, HE the President, Hon Prime Minister, Secretary Defence, Tri-Forces, Health Ministry, the Government and the Media are still continuing their part to save the Nation. Therefore I would like to thank all of them on behalf of our country. We are passing the fifth week of the Covid - 19 as of today. If we compare the percentage of Covid - 19 cases with other countries we can be happy by looking at our control of this menace,” he added.Sportswear free shipping | Nike Air Max 97 GS Easter Egg 921826-016 , Fitforhealth
