20th April 2019 12:26:39 Hours
Security Force Headquarters-Mullaittivu, its under command 59 Division Headquarters, 593 and 591 Brigade Headquarters, fulfilling long-felt vital needs for administration, accommodation, rest and recreation equipped themselves on Thursday (18) in order to carry out their national security duties in a more refined and vibrant manner with focus on gestures of public goodwill and reconciliation.
None other than the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Major General Dushyantha Rajaguru, Commander, Security Forces - Mullaittivu (SF-MLT) took part in the inaugural warming of several projects, plus community-oriented social service programmes in and around Mullaittivu amid hectic schedules where he also had the rare chance of meeting a large section of serving Officers and Other Rankers.
The day's itinerary of the visiting Commander commenced with his visit to Mullaittivu-based 59 Division Headquarters of the Security Force Headquarters - Mullaittivu where he was received by Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 59 Division. Troops of the 59 Division presented a formal Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour to the day's guest and did honours soon after he arrived at the premises.
Minutes after those formalities, Commander SF-MLT together with the GOC, 59 Division invited the Commander of the Army for inauguration of the newly-constructed Mess Buildings for Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants which remained long-felt requirements in the premises. After unveiling a plaque, the Commander as has been the practice, together with an Officer and a Warrant Officer, cut a ribbon and entered the new Mess Hall with Senior Officers as warming rituals got underway. The opening ceremony followed planting of a Sandalwood sapling in the compound as a symbol of the Commander's visit to the location. A group photograph afterwards added memories to the event before the day's Chief Guest joined for refreshments with everyone.
General Officer Commanding 64, 68 Divisions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers and Other Rankers joined the event.
The next item on the day's agenda covered the Commander's visit to the 593 Brigade Headquarters where he was invited to open the new Officers’ Mess building. Colonel Lanka Amarapala, Commander 593 Brigade warmly received the visitor with other officers and showed the Commander around the camp premises. Before the Commander's exit, he penned a couple of thoughts in the 593 Brigade Visitors' Book.
His visit to the 591 Brigade Headquarters that followed afterwards was of importance since the entire administrative wing of this Headquarters were set to move into a new building, erected by 591 Brigade troops themselves. Formal unveiling of the plaque, traditional oil lamp-lighting, warming rites and rituals, symbolic tree planting, etc organized on the instructions of the 591 Brigade Commander, Colonel Suresh Perera adorned the occasion before the visiting Commander of the Army posed for a group photo and placed his memories in the 591 Brigade Visitors’ book. The Commander's visit to the 591 Brigade Headquarters assumed greater significance a few minutes later as the Commander was ushered to the 591 Brigade auditorium for award of 3 scholarships to three local achievers in the recent G.C.E Advanced Level examination. The Army Seva Vanitha Unit at the Army Headquarters has consented to provide a sponsorship of Rs 5000 every month to each of those three students, V. Vidusha, T. Abishanth and V. Dinushanth until they complete their university studies. This project was made possible by the personal intervention of the Commander after a request to this effect was personally referred to the Commander by Mr Ponnambalam Ponraj, Principal at Mulliyaveli Vidyananda College after realizing potential skills among those students.
Principal, Teachers, Students, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers and a large gathering witnessed the award of those incentives and joined the Commander for a group photo.
Next was another climax in the day's programme for the Commander at the SFHQ-MLT. The finals in the ‘Inter Battalion Quiz Competition – 2019’, a feature to update general knowledge of Officers serving 23 Battalions under the SFHQ-MLT on the theme, ‘Knowledge is Power’ got underway at the SFHQ-MLT auditorium, the same afternoon in the presence of the day's distinguished guest. Excitement, anxiety and competitiveness pervaded the occasion, organized by the 59 Division Headquarters as hundreds of Officers closely looked on as the general knowledge quiz began its rounds in a packed audience.
23 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) team and 6 Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) team vied in the grand finale. However, 6 SLEME Officers with the highest aggregates won the Championship pushing the rival 23 VIR team to be the runners-up in the fray. The Commander of the Army awarded gifts to the winners and the winners in the ‘Best Section Selection Competition’ which was competed by 16 Volunteer and Regular Infantry Battalions in the area. It was coordinated by the 68 Division Headquarters and aimed at enhancing the capabilities of infantry soldiers on Field Craft techniques, Tactics, Live firing, Drill and Physical fitness, etc. 23 VIR section emerged the Best amid applause and cheers.
All senior officers, Officers who are serving in the SF Mullaitivu area of responsibility including Divisions, Brigades and Battalions met the Commander afterwards and extended their greetings to the visiting military chief. The Commander also gave a patient hearing to their concerns and related issues during a brief interactive session that ensued afterwards.
At the end of the day’s itinerary, the Commander of the Army joined the typical Mess Night formality at the 59 Division Headquarters at the invitation of the GOC 59 Division where mementos were also exchanged. Running sport media | Nike Shoes
