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Cornerstone Laid for Construction of PLA Gifted Admin Complex at SLMA

The cornerstone-laying ceremony for construction of the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) gifted full-fledged administrative and lecture facility complex at the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa, took place on Tuesday (21), amid a Chinese delegation of the PLA and a representative gathering of senior Army officers.

Senior Colonel Wei Dong of the PLA, Head of the Delegation and Senior Colonel Chen Jie, Head of the Supervising Delegation, together with representatives of the construction company, attended the inaugural ceremony, headed by Major General L.N Wickremasooriya, Chief Engineer Officer, Sri Lanka Engineers as the Chief Guest, representing the Commander of the Army.

The event also saw Major General Prasanna De Silva, Commander, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) and Brigadier R.W.W.A.D.B Rajaguru, Commandant, SLMA, Brigadier Jayantha Gunaratne, Director Operations and a few other senior officers gracing the inaugural event.

The state-of-the-art building complex, an outright gift from the PLA of China is to be erected by Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Company Ltd, one of the best constructors in China and completed by the end of 2015 as per the proposed plan.

The proposed new building complex, a much-needed requirement for the SLMA will facilitate the establishment of new offices and a modern auditorium with separate lecture halls, common halls, operation cells, sitting rooms, etc. The project was initiated during the tenure of the former Commander of the Army and serves as a symbol of strong bilateral relations and broad understanding both Armies have with each other.

As the auspicious minute struck, the Chief Guest, together with Chinese representatives, laid foundation stones and inaugurated the construction project of immense. The Chief Guest on the occasion delivered a brief speech thanking the PLA for its valuable gift to the SLMA which boasts a historic value to the entire services of the country.