Press Release
.jpg)
General Vijay Kumar Singh PVSM AVSM YSM ADC, the Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya arrives in Sri Lanka on Sunday (5th September) on a five-day official tour.
The Indian Army Chief’s five-member delegation is comprised of Mrs Bharti Singh, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Major General Harminderjit Singh Sachdev SM, General Officer Commanding, Infantry Division, Brigadier Jatinder Pal Singh, Military Assistant and Mrs Aravinder Kaur.
General Vijay Kumar Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka, seen as a portent for further promotion of goodwill, understanding and military cooperation between the two military establishments in both countries, is the first-ever highest level Army delegation from India to have visited Sri Lanka after the culmination of the war for peace.
The visiting Indian Chief of Army Staff General Vijay Kumar Singh during his stay in Sri Lanka is scheduled to have separate meetings with HE the President, Hon Prime Minister, Hon Minister of External Affairs, Secretary Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy before he pays floral tributes to the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) memorial at Battaramulla.
The visiting Indian Army Chief is to review the Guard Turn-out on his arrival at the Army Headquarters premises before he receives the Guard of Honour from a special dais in accordance with military traditions.
The Indian Chief of Army Staff is expected to interact with the Commander of the Army and exchange views on bilateral issues of military interest with special focus on sharing of Sri Lanka Army’s recent battle experiences with partners in the Asian region. Later on, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya is to introduce his Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) to the visiting Indian Army chief.
General Singh, in addition to his commitments in Colombo during the tour, is also expected to meet Commander, Security Forces Headquarters Wanni in Vavuniya and visit Indian de-mining site at Omanthai, prior to his visit to places of religious and cultural interest at Anuradhapura. His itinerary in Trincomalee includes visits to Oil Farm, Monkey Bridge, Naval Dockyard, Naval Museum and sacred Koneshwarm Hindu Temple. In Trincomalee, the visiting Indian Army Chief will also pay a courtesy call on Governor for Eastern Province.
General Singh is to visit the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa, the country’s pioneer Army officer cadet training institute, followed by placement of floral wreaths at the SLMA cenotaph, symbolic planting of saplings and viewing of cadet officers under training. A Guard Turnout is to greet him on arrival at the main entrance to the SLMA. The same evening, he is also to pay respect to Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa and visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden.
As the final leg of his tour to Sri Lanka, General Singh is to address student officers at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sapugaskanda.
General Singh’s spouse, Mrs Bharti Singh, President, AWWA, on the sidelines of the main programme is to be received during a welcome ceremony as Chief Guest by the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB). Reception and all other related arrangements at the SVAB are to be coordinated by Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President SVAB in Colombo whereas Mrs Singh’s itinerary arrangements elsewhere are to be organized by respective authorities in those areas. The visiting military delegation is also expected to speak to War Heroes under rehabilitation at Ragama ‘Ranaviru Sevana’ and witness talents of those disable War Heroes during their sojourn at the ‘Ranaviru Sevana’. High Commissioner for India as well as the Deputy High Commissioner for India is also scheduled to have separate meetings with the visiting Indian Army Chief during his stay in Colombo.
General Vijay Kumar Singh with his wide ranging experience of various high profile command, staff and instructional appointments has actively taken part in the Operation ‘Pawan’ in Sri Lanka during 1987 when the IPKF troops were serving Sri Lanka. He also has seen action in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, just a year after he was commissioned in 2 Rajput Regiment in 1970.
General Singh, reputed as a veteran in Counter Insurgency Operations boasts an illustrious career with outstanding performance on all the courses that he has attended. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, US Army Rangers Course at Fort Benning, USA and US Army War College, Carlisle.
In recognition of his exceptional and distinguished commitment he has been awarded with Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India on the eve of Republic Day 2009. To his credit, he has also commanded the prestigious Strike Corps in western sector before taking over the command of the Eastern Army in March 2008. In appreciation of his dedication in an operationally sensitive area and his contribution to the Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir, he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary service as General Officer Commanding.
General Vijay Kumar Singh became the Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army on 31st March 2010. (Ends)
