Dombagoda Army Ordnance Factory Begins Production of Shoes & Leather Products

The state-of-the-art production of Shoes, Berets, Hand Bags, Power Loom and Hand Loom products inside the Ordnance Factory of the Army at Dombagoda, Horana commenced this afternoon (25) during a brief ceremony graced by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

At the invitation of Major General Renaka Udawatta, Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC) and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army who has been the architect of the Army Ordnance Factory at Dombagoda, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest attended the occasion, marking a new phase of the manufacturing skills of Army personnel.

On arrival a drive-past Guard Turnout in keeping with Army traditions saluted the visiting Army Chief at the entrance. Afterwards the visiting Army Chief was ushered to the factory in a colourful procession of Ves dancers after he was welcomed by Major General Renaka Udawatta, Colonel Commandant, SLAOC, in the company of several Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and Senior Officers and was invited to inaugurate those separate sections in the Ordnance Factory.

The Commander was also afterwards invited to mark his presence at the premises by unveiling a symbolic plaque and cutting a ribbon before the new section was formally opened.

The opening of the new production section in the Ordnance Factory signals a new turning point in the Army’s story of modernizing and restructuring of its infrastructure facilities as well, to be in parallel with fast changing, innovative prospects and challenging dimensions at global levels. The new section is manned by 8 Officers and 285 Other Rankers and commanded by Brigadier H.L Guruge, Factory Commandant.

After inaugurating the new production section, the Commander took time off to inspect other areas of products, now in progress.

During his stay there, the Commander also had a close look at an informative display of several factory-manufactured and technically-modified accessories, needed to the Army for regular use. He also inquired into several aspects of production processes.

Adding memories, the Commander signed the visitors’ book, posed for a group photo and addressed the troops serving the factory and the SLAOC Regimental Centre.

Both the Army Ordnance Factory at Dombagoda and the mega Army Industrial Workshop at Kosgama came into being in September 2014 with the objective of producing most-needed varieties of hardware, barrack equipment, machinery tools and all other own accessories, required for the Army.

The Commander through these projects expects to develop and promote Army skills, innovative creativity, knowledge on modern technology, access to quality products, and provide second career options for hundreds of soldiers through craftsmanship, etc upon their retirement. More importantly, the project would save foreign exchange and local costs for the organization while supplying critical needs of the Army on priority basis.