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Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya |
"THE PEACEFUL New Year that all our people wished in the past three decades has dawned this year in our motherland after barbaric terrorism was completely eliminated. It comes as a huge relief to the entire Nation and we, as members of the Army take pride in that noble and sacred mission as those who contributed to it.
We were held in high esteem and respect by our Nation as contemporary heroes. We received laurels as one of the best Armies in the world due to gallantry and heroism. The skills you displayed during those Humanitarian Operations as well as your committed discipline were attributable to it. Likewise, it is a fact that His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Commander-in-Chief as well as Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave leadership for your encouragement.
Blessings invoked on you by people of all walks of life, irrespective of differences at Temples, Churches, Kovils, etc gave further impetus for you to be stronger. Like all these things, your spouses, parents, next of kin and all your friends and well-wishers expressed their support to your endeavours while staying at home who should also share part of the dignity we earned. Let us offer that dignified sense of pride at this historic juncture to all of them. I firmly believe they would co-operate with us in the same manner in our future endeavours, too.
Our Army has received attention at both local and international arena in an unprecedented manner at this stage of time. Along with it, I have been entrusted with a special role of responsibilities on your behalf, none of my predecessors have been assigned, earlier.
Attention has to be attracted towards the glory you gained on par with your living standards. Measures have been taken to look after War Heroes who became disable for life in the Humanitarian Operations and Centres for their rest and relaxation are to be set up at provincial level with the help of the Government. Its first stage is to be completed by me in a location close to the Nuwara Wewa in Anuradhapura.
Housing projects and land allotments as well as other War Hero welfare roles, spearheaded with the Government’s patronage are among those special welfare projects that have become prominent.
I am grateful to all for the enthusiasm and dedication being extended by the Seva Vanitha Army Branch and other civil organizations in this sphere.
Our dedication, commitment and discipline extended towards the Government initiated ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ and ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programmes have come in for praise by none other than His Excellency, the President himself and it is a matter that all of us can be happy and proud of.
We are now a professional Army. We should sustain the status quo and it is a challenge entrusted to us. To overcome this challenge, we should maintain the highest degree of training and discipline. Ground war skills of a soldier should be improved particularly for that. Not only that, our responsibility also covers our ability to maintain that great achievement from down up to the top.
Following directives received from His Excellency, the President, our Commander-in-Chief, the United Nations contingent is to be raised to 5000 from the present 950 cadre at one time.
We are prepared to dispatch that number at a short notice on the invitation of the United Nations. This golden opportunity for the first time in history will also go to Women’s Corps.
We must be able to promote our sports skills this year further considering the honour and glory they brought in to the country both at local and international levels. I will take steps to facilitate anybody in the sportsfield to go up in the ladder of sports, without any impediments. I believe you will reap the maximum of it and bring credit to you personally and to the country at large.
In conclusion, I recall the memories of the War Heroes who have laid their lives for the country. I wish speedy recovery to all those still recuperating after battlefield injuries.
I recall with honour the parents and spouses who sacrificed their loved ones for the sake of the country. I also remember with gratitude the role, being played by Civil Staff in the Army. It will not be forgotten.
I wish all of you a prosperous New Year as we all assemble together here as a unified Nation.
