12th April 2020 23:46:59 Hours
During his sojourn in the peninsula on Sunday (12), Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva in his capacity as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) did not forget to meet All Ranks at the Northern Naval Command in Kankesanthurai and share New Year greetings with all of them. Navy’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Area Commander Rear Admiral S.M.D.K Samaraweera on his arrival at the venue welcomed the visiting CDS saying that his troops are fortunate and happy to have a CDS, like Lieutenant General Silva, particularly at this critical phase of our country. “You have taken the leadership on to you on behalf of all servicemen and are doing a great service. Amidst all those challenges, you still managed to visit us, too,” he remarked in his welcome note.
After a while, the Naval Area Commander invited the CDS to have a look at the new pier under construction at the KKS harbour. Accompanied by Rear Admiral Samaraweera, Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander, Security Forces-Jaffna and a few Senior Officers, the visiting CDS went for a stroll along the pier before he also met troops aboard the Naval ship, ‘Uttara’, anchored in the same location. The CDS afterwards addressed them, appreciated their dedicated roles and extended best wishes in the wake of the dawn of the New Year. Lieutenant General Silva was also awarded an appreciative memento at the occasion before he left the premises. .
During his address to sailors, 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 Navy 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 Navy 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 Navy Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva made our tasks easier and he stood by the Army all the time. Naval troops 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. 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,” he added.
“Likewise, your surveillance on drug trafficking while fighting against COVID-19 enabled Navy troops to seize foreign vessels carrying large consignments of heroin and drugs such as ICE into our island. During those critical times, you simultaneously joined distributing essentials among the needy in the peninsula which is also a great job well done,” the visiting CDS told sailors during the addresses.Sport media | Nike Air Max 270
