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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

04th January 2017 15:42:27 Hours

Island-Wide SFHQs Concurrently Greet First Working Day to Match with AHQ Proceedings

Coinciding with arrangements that got underway at the Army Headquarters to mark the first working day of the New Year (2 Jan), all island-wide Security Force Headquarters (SFHQs) of the Army, launched their own programmes to welcome the New Year at respective places.

Formalities at all respective SFHQ levels after main highlights of the day facilitated all Army personnel to watch HE the President’s visionary telecast address on Monday (2), dedicated to the ‘Year of Poverty Alleviation - 2017’.

Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna greeted the first working day of the New Year at the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), in accordance with the formalities that were simultaneously taking place at the Colombo Army Headquarters, headed by the Commander of the Army.

Flag hoisting, recital of the National anthem and the Army song, reading of the state service commitment oath and the Commander’s New Year message, observance of a two-minute silence to remember fallen War Heroes, a troop address by the Jaffna Commander and a hospital visit were among the major highlights that took place in Jaffna in connection with the dawn of the New Year and the first working day. Towards the end of the programme, Major General Senanayake, together with a few senior officers went to the Palaly Army Base Hospital and met Army personnel receiving treatment. He shared a couple of views with the inmates and gave away some New Year compliments, extending wishes for the New Year.

Troops of the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni (SFHQ-W) meanwhile marked the dawn of the New Year, giving pride of place to an overnight Pirith chanting ceremony and an alms-giving to members of the Maha Sangha before the series of formalities got underway at the SFHQ-W premises on the first working day of the year (2).

Major General J.R Kulathunga, Commander, Security Forces - Wanni (SF-W) began the formal ceremony as per instructions of the Army Headquarters with flag hoisting, reading of the state service oath and the Commander’s message, observance of a two-minute silence and a brief troop address before he went to the ‘Abimansala 1’ at Anuradhapura to see the well-being of its inmates. Inside the ‘Abimansala 1’, the Wanni Commander shared a couple of views with the inmates and gave away some gift parcels as compliments.

Similarly, the Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E) welcomed the New Year with a special religious programme at nearby Somawathi Rajamaha Viharaya on Sunday (1) before formalities kicked off at the SFHQ-E premises, the following day (2).

Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, Security Forces - East, presiding the first working day ceremony, together with a gathering of officers and other rankers, followed the formal flag hoisting, recital of the National anthem and the Army song, reading of the state service pledge and the Commander’s New Year message, observance of a two-minute silence in memory of fallen War Heroes and a brief troop address.

Later on, the East Commander, together with several senior officers went to the Minneriya Army Base Hospital and inquired into the well-being of the inmates under treatment. A stock of gift parcels were also distributed among them to mark the occasion.

Security Force Headquarters - Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) meanwhile had a simple ceremony at its premises where Major General Amal Karunasekara, Commander, Security Forces - Kilinochchi, took part in the formal flag hoisting, recital of the National anthem and the Army song, reading of the state service pledge, observance of a two-minute silence in memory of fallen War Heroes and a brief troop address before the Commander’s New Year message was read out. Towards the end of the programme, the Kilinochchi Commander gave away gift parcels to a representative gathering of Army and civil personnel at the SFHQ-KLN and Army personnel receiving medical treatment at the Kilinochchi Army Base Hospital. Commander, Forward Maintenance Area, senior officers and other rankers took part in these arrangements.

The first working day of the year 2017 at the Security Force Headquarters - Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT) was greeted to a series of arrangements, organized on the instructions of Major General Dampath Fernando, Commander, SF-MLT on Monday (02).

Brigadier B.P.S de Silva, Brigadier General Staff, SFHQ-MLT, representing the Mullaittivu Commander, together with Colonel H. Walgama, Brigadier Administration and Quartering, SFHQ-MLT hoisted the National flag respectively and the Army flag before the recital of the National anthem and the Army song, reading of state service oath and the Commander’s message and the observance of a two-minute silence took place inside the premises.

Afterwards, Brigadier P.I Pathirathna, General Officer Commanding, 64 Division on behalf of the Commander, Security Forces - MLT visited the Army Base Hospital in Mullaittivu and inquired into the well-being of those inmates.

Simultaneously, the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West) launched its elaborate programmes to greet the first working day of the year on Monday (02) at the SFHQ-West premises in Panagoda.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, Security Forces - West hoisted the National flag whilst Brigadier M.A.A.D Sirinaga, Brigadier Administration and Quartering at the SFHQ-West raised the Army flag before the rest of the formalities got to a start.

Like in all other places, the proceedings consisted of the recital of the National anthem and the Army song, reading of state service oath and the Commander’s message and the observance of a two-minute silence before the West Commander addressed the troops on account of the New Year.

As the final event of the day’s programme, Commander Security Forces - West in the company of several senior officers, visited the Panagoda Army Base Hospital and made inquiries into the well-being of resident patients. A stock of gift parcels were also shared among the inmates around the same time.

In the meantime, up country-based troops of the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-C) held its formal programme to herald the dawn of the New Year and the first working day of the year on Monday (2) at Diyatalawa.

Major General P.U.S Vithanage, Commander, SFHQ-C as the day’s chief guest followed the formalities, related to the dawn of the New Year and attended the formal flag hoisting, recital of the National anthem and the Army song, observance of a two-minute silence, reading of state service oath and the Commander’s message. He also addressed the troops on the occasion and extended his best wishes. Those highlights afterwards paved the way for the Central Commander to pay a visit to the Diyatalawa Army Base Hospital and inquired into the health condition of the inmates receiving treatment.

Separate New Year tea tables, comprised of traditional sweetmeats at all formations enabled the troops to interact with one another and exchange greetings and views.

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