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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Dawn of New Year Marked at Army Hqrs with State Service Pledge &;amp; Formalities

Sri Lanka Army Headquarters - Colombo greeted the dawn of the first working day of the New Year-2013 during a customary ceremony on Tuesday (Jan 1), amidst traditions and military formalities.

Hoisting of the National Flag as well as the Army Flag, amidst rhythms of auspicious drums (Magul Bera), followed by recital of the National Anthem and the Army Song, inaugurated the day’s highlights at the Commander’s Secretariat premises.

Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, giving pride of prominence to the country, hoisted the National Flag while Major General R.M.D Ratnayaka, Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters raised the Army Flag, in accordance with customary military traditions.

Afterwards observance of a one-minute silence paid respect to the memory of all those who had made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country as the clock struck 9.14 a.m.

The State Service commitment pledge that reminds state officials’ unfailing duty to serve the public and the State under One country, One nation and One flag was then read out as is the practice in all island-wide state institutions on the first day of the New Year.

Next, the Commander of the Army rose to his feet to deliver his traditional New Year message which normally sets out the vision for the incoming New Year. In his address, the Commander reminded the gathering of the significance of the sustenance of the highest levels of discipline among the members and revealed new training programmes in the pipeline. (See separate story for the full text below)

As is the practice every year, the Commander ended the New Year day’s programme with an interactive tea table meet of traditional sweet meats where all ranks had the rare opportunity of sharing a couple of thoughts with the Commander and other senior officers.