Commander Has Audience with Archbishop of Colombo

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army Friday (15) morning had a courtesy audience with His Eminence Cardinal Rt Rev Malcom Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo at the Bishop House in Colombo 8.

During the cordial audience with the dignitary, Lieutenant General Senanayake explained Him on the specific roles, being played by Army troops in the Jaffna peninsula for improvement of living and economic standards of the needy people in the peninsula with the intention of strengthening and promoting reconciliation, ethnic harmony and religious amity among Northern people.

Commander of the Army during the audience further elaborated on various welfare measures that have been already launched in the peninsula by way of house construction for displaced people, supply of essentials to the needy and school accessories to students, award of scholarships to poverty-stricken students, conduct of medical clinics and distribution of spectacles, medicine, etc.

In addition, he added that Jaffna troops continue to offer manpower for school and public building constructions, supply of drinking water facilities to students and villagers alike, and are engaged in the provision of nutrients to pregnant women, facilitation of visits to places of interest, recruitment of youth to military wings and the Police, launch of different civil-military related cooperation projects, etc and many more such projects.

His Eminence praised the Army for its multifarious nation-building projects and its exemplary services in the North for promotion of ethnic harmony and reconciliatory moves, intended to rebuild the country on a sound footing of reconciliation and national unity.

Before his departure, the Commander presented a symbolic gift to His Eminence and wished Him well with future endeavours.

Major General Dampath Fernando, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army was also associated with the audience of the religious dignitary.