Commander Secretariat Staff Join Landmark Expedition

A group of about 67 members of the staff working in the Commander's Secretariat at the Army Headquarters, including civil employees were taken on an expedition of three days for the first time, thanks to an initiative of the Commander of the Army himself with the objective of promoting team-building spirits, understanding, goodwill and collective responsibility.

The three-day long expedition (March 16, 17 & 18) which explored historical, archaeological, irrigational, adventurous and interesting places of tourist attraction was surprisingly joined by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake on the first night of the expedition at Maduru Oya Special Forces Training School (SFTS) where a series of thrilling events and features took place, amid a campfire.

The picnickers showcased their musical and acrobatic talents in front of the Commander for a few hours and enjoyed their day of fun and excitement, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and pressing workload during the journey. The picnic enabled the participants to engage in collective fun-making events as well as physical training sessions when they were in Maduru Oya.

Visits to Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, Victoria Dam, Sorabora Wewa, Maduru Oya reservoir, Rock Temple in Polonnaruwa educated the team on different historical aspects of those places as well as their national importance to the evolution of the Sri Lankan culture for generations. In addition, the participants were able to get a firsthand glimpse of what their fellow-Army soldiers were doing in different nation-building projects in Polonnaruwa, including Chandanapokuna tank renovation and elsewhere under the 'Sirisara Pivisuma' national drive while they were proceeding back to Colombo.

The programme also offered the group to learn more about behaviour of snakes, plants and herbs, firing demonstrations, irrigational engineering, boat rides and adventurous features, etc.

Colonel Udaya Kumara, Military Assistant, Colonel Prasanna Wijesooriya, Colonel, Commander's Secretariat (CS) and a few more Senior Officers were associated with the trip.