Commander Pays Respect to Late Lieutenant Colonel R.P.K.S.S Ranasinghe of SLNG

The military funeral of Lieutenant Colonel R.P.K.S.S Ranasinghe of the Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG), who had served the country for more than 28 years took place on Friday (07) afternoon at Homagama, Galawilawatta-Niyadagala cemetery, amid a mammoth gathering of his military comrades and other mourners.

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army and Colonel of the Regiment of the SLNG visited his residence and paid his last respect to the remains and condoled with his family members. Retired Senior Officers, Principal Staff Officers, Senior Officers, Directors and other mourners were also there to salute the late Officer during funeral arrangements as the dusk fell. Lieutenant Colonel R.P.K.S.S Ranasinghe died of a brief illness on admission to hospital on Wednesday (05)

Troops in accordance with military traditions received the remains, presenting arms near the entrance to the cemetery before being placed in the gun carriage and draped it in the National flag. As the funeral procession reached the main entrance to the cemetery, a representative gathering of Senior Officers formally, received the coffin and began to inch their way towards the crematorium after all of them together with family members lined up behind the coffin.

The formal Special Part I Order, issued by the Regimental Adjutant of the Sri Lanka National Guard was then read out to the mourners as the occasion turned solemn. Troops in conformity with military traditions, then saluted the deceased, presenting a symbolic gun salute, the highest tribute a military officer, could get in the event of his demise. Minutes after the Last Post, the bugle call that sounded, indicating that the great soldier had now gone to his final rest, the remains were taken to the crematorium.

A few minutes later, Brigadier P.A.M Peiris RSP USP psc, Director, Directorate of Sports. together with Colonel N.H.J Mangala, Recruiting Officer of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and Colonel B.R.W.M.R.A.B Thoradeniya, Deputy Centre Commandant of SLNG presented the bereaved family with decorations and medals Lieutenant Colonel R.P.K.S.S Ranasinghe had earned during his illustrious career, a general tradition in the armed forces.

Late Lieutenant Colonel R.P.K.S.S Ranasinghe during humanitarian operations performed a commendable role in the fight against LTTE terrorists in the North and East before May in 2009.

Here follows the Part 1 Order read out at the funeral;