04th October 2022 13:30:16 Hours
Island-wide Army troops in an attempt to add deserving importance to the child and its development contributed in multiple ways to commemorate the International Children’s Day on Saturday (1).
Collective efforts of the troops serving the 142 Brigade Headquarters, 15 Drone Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, 7 Gemunu Watch and 14 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment under the Security Force Headquarters - West during special programmes entertained the children at Madiwela ‘Surasa’ Special Education School and Home for the Boys on 1 October 2022.
The special arrangement at this centre for children was attended by Major General Deepal Pussella, Commander, Security Forces - West and his spouse, Mrs Himali Pussella. The General Officer Commanding, 14 Division and the 142 Brigade Commander were instrumental in organizing the event for the children, in which several fun-making features, music, drawing and offer of refreshments were conducted.
All those children, some of who are with special needs took part in the variety show, consisted of singing rounds, musical chairs, games, dancing events and many other fun-making features before all resident children were provided with a special lunch on account of the International Children’s Day. During his visit to the location, Major General Deepal Pussella had a look at the entire school premises and interacted with children and teaching staff.
In the meantime, children living in Kaddaikadu and Kevil areas of the Jaffna peninsula following an initiative taken by the 55 Division of the Security Forces HQ - Jaffna enjoyed a series of fun-filled activities including games, dancing features, etc before all those children were given gift parcels. Those 125 students from schools in Kaddaikadu and Kevil areas were from deserving families.
Major General Prasanna Gunaratne, General Officer Commanding, 55 Division with the blessings of Major General Chandana Wijayasundara, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna took part in the arrangement as the Chief Guest with a view to further boosting civil - military relations in the area. Towards the end of the programme a special lunch was provided to the children participating in the event.
Rev Fr Amal Raj of Kaddaikadu Church, together with teachers and parents attended the event, held on the theme, ‘A Better Future for Every Child’.
Meanwhile, officers and other ranks of the 522 Brigade of the 52 Division, together with part sponsorship of the Samudra bookshop in Kurunegala conducted a relief programme on the Children’s Day by gifting school accessories and books to 108 deserving children at Jaffna Karambakurichchi School and Varani Central College.
Each gift parcel worth about Rs 2,500/= contained pens and pencils, exercise books, A4 sheets, reading materials, colouring instruments, etc. School principals, teachers, Major General Anuradha Fernando, General Officer Commanding, 52 Division, 522 Brigade Commander, Brigadier Chandima Kumarasinghe and some parents attended the distributing ceremony.
15 Gajaba Regiment troops under the guidelines given by the 522 Brigade took steps to organize the event inside their camp premises.
Similarly, troops of the 111 Brigade under command to the 11 Division of the Security Force HQ - Central on account of the Children’s Day offered a hearty lunch to 1800 students learning at Gampola Wickramabhau Vidyalaya with the patronage given by the Old Pupils’ Association and the principal. Civil Coordinating Officer Lieutenant Colonel H.M.A.P Kumara, together with the Chairman of the Old Pupils’ Association attended the occasion.
In the meantime, 7 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment troops joining their hands with the Children’s Day gifted school books to 21 students at Chawakachcheri Roman Catholic Tamil School. Troops spent their own money for purchase of those incentives, each packet worth about Rs 2,000/=. The Second In Command, Major Thushara Kumarasinghe, 7 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment attended the donation programme.
Troops of the 141 Brigade meanwhile also conducted a cleaning and repair programme inside the Peter Weerasekara Child Development Centre at Buthpitiya where troops completely colourwashed the shrine room, all buildings and cleaned up the entire compound during this programme. In addition, a lunch plus distribution of gift parcels took place at the same location. Brigadier Pradeep Gamage, Commander 141 Brigade with several senior officers joined the programme.
Similarly, 533 Brigade troops organized a special programme for students at Nelumpathgama Primary School in Galnewa and took them on a pilgrimage to the Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya and the Rock Temple at Mihintale.
At the end of the trip a special lunch, supplemented with a musical programme made the children happier. 533 Brigade Commander was also associated with the day’s arrangements.
Meanwhile, troops of the 542 Brigade under command to the 54 Division of the Security Forces - Wanni launched a special programme for students at Thambapanni Sinhala School in Mannar on account of the Children’s Day.
The C2 women’s Lions Club provided financial sponsorship for distribution of essential school items gift parcels among those students. Teachers also joined the occasion. 542 Brigade Commander supervised the event.
Meanwhile, troops of the 144 Brigade organized a special programme at the Salvation Army - Child Development Center, Rajagiriya premises on 01 October 2022 as per the directions of the Commander, Security Forces - West, Major General Deepal Pussella.
The programme saw 21 children in this centre were provided with gift parcels inclusive of school accessories and stationaries. At the same time, a mobile dental clinic, held at the same premises examined oral hygiene of those children.
General Officer Commanding, 14 Division, Brigadier Roshan Jayamanna and Commander, 144 Brigade, Brigadier Vindana Kodithuwakku together with his troops made the Children’s Day project a success.
Towards the end of the programme, Army calypso band provided a musical entertainment to the occasion. Several Senior Officers, including Commander, l44 Brigade, Colonel General Staff, 14 Division, Commanding Officer, 2 (V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Commanding Officer, 10 Sri Lanka National Guard, Senior Security Officer and Civil Affairs Officer of 144 Brigade were associated with the event.
Similarly, troops of the 12 Division under the Security Force HQ - Central donated a stock of school accessories to the Hathporuwa Primary School in Hambantota and entertained 322 students in the same school to a sumptuous lunch on account of the Children’s Day. 23 Gajaba Regiment and 3 Sri Lanka National Guard troops supported the project under the direction of the General Officer Commanding, 12 Division.
Meanwhile, troops of the 3 VIR under command to the 682 Brigade of the 68 Division under SFHQ-MLT conducted a Shramadana at Shiva Shakthi pre-school in Thevipuram Grama Seva Division on account of the Children’s Day. It was supervised by the Commanding Officer.
In addition, the Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR) HQ at DambuluHalmillawewa distributed gift parcels among kids at ‘Pubudu’ pre-school in Dehippawa, Dambulu Halmillawewa and entertained them to music.
The Centre Commandant of MIR, Brigadier Anura Abeysinghe, along with the Secretary of MIR Seva Vanitha Branch, Mrs Swarnamali Ekanayake joined the occasion. The programme was organized under the instructions of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters and the Colonel of the Regiment MIR, Major General Channa Weerasuriya.
Similarly, the 51 Division HQ of the Security Force HQ - Jaffna adding their share to the International Children’s Day held a special programme with children at Kannan Girls’ Home in Kopay South. A variety of entertaining features, competitions and exhibitions coloured the occasion where Major General Udaya Kumara, GOC, 51 Division joined as the Chief Guest.
Meanwhile, troops of the 582 Brigade of the 58 Division offered a special lunch treat to the inmates at the Children’s Home in Ellakanda Watta, Horana on account of the Children’s Day on Monday (3).
In the meantime, troops of the 6 Gemunu Watch distributed school accessories among 40 needy students at Mathusha preschool in Udayarkattu, Puthukudduirippu on Saturday (1) to mark the Children’s Day. The sponsorship for the programme was provided by Mr Amila Sanjeewa Banduwasam, an expatriate, based in Australia. Brigadier N.D.P Gunathunga, Commander 681 Brigade attended the event.
Meanwhile, troops of the 16 Sri Lanka National Guard of the 241 Brigade under the directions of Brigadier Chandra Abeykoon, a Shramadana was conducted inside the earmarked land plot for the Non-Guardianship Children’s Home in Ampara. 11 Sri Lanka National Guard troops of the 241 Brigade arranged a hearty lunch for kids learning at Ampara Siyapatha pre-school.
Troops of the 24 Gajaba Regiment of the 653 Brigade meanwhile distributed story books, school stationery to 24 kids learning at Crista Keen pre-school at Periyapandivirichchan in Madu. In addition, 59 students at Thachchanamaradamadu Maha Vidyalaya were gifted school packs and accessories as incentives on the Children’s Day. Troops used their own resources to sponsor the projects.
In the meantime, troops of the 18 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment provided a special lunch to the children learning at “Vision Hope Children’s Center” at Pandipuruppu, Kalmune on the Children’s Day.
