Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, all Senior Officers, Officers and Members of the Civil Staff wish all of you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year in 2014 !
The Special New Year Message, issued by the Commander of the Army is as follows;
MESSAGE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMY ON ACCOUNT OF SINHALA & TAMIL
NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2014
It is with great pleasure I extend my New Year greetings to All Ranks in the Army as the 20th Commander when both Sinhala and Tamil communities with new rays of hopes on the horizon, mark the transit of the Sun from the Meena constellation to the Mesha constellation during a colourful festival, rich with rites and rituals.
We must be humbly proud for being able to mark the dawn of the New Year in a peaceful and stable milieu, rid of fear or uncertainty or security while prioritizing our age-old rites and rituals as we practised in the distant past.
It is with deep gratitude I recall here the fearless leadership and the strength, provided to us by HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as well as the unfailing guidance, lent to the tri-services, Police and Civil Defence Force by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development in our fight against the vicious cycle of terrorism that gripped this country for more than three decades.
At this auspicious festive period, I recall the memories and invaluable services of our fallen War Heroes with dignity and honour. Let me also wish speedy recovery to all injured War Heroes, still recovering and extend my best wishes to all families of our War Heroes. Likewise, my New Year greetings go to all members of the civil staff serving the Army and their family members.
Of all the festivals in the world, the dawn of a New Year is important to all of us because it certainly awards an opportunity for us to forget our old enmities and begin afresh in the New Year, to dawn.
It is no secret that role of our War Hero has gone beyond the parameters of basic responsibilities whose commitment has come in for praise from the first citizen of the country to every countryman at grass root level, for which we must be proud and work together to realize the essence of the meaning of the New Year.
I at this moment, remember how hundreds of our War Heroes without being in the company of their relatives or families during this festive season, dedicate themselves to serve the Nation while confining to their working places, a sacrifice which is invaluable and unique. Let me share my greetings with them as well as with their family members elsewhere.
On account of this New Year, Sri Lanka Army Headquarters, scrapping the annual New Year Fair which benefited only a few members, a scheme to buy garments at concessionary rates for serving Army personnel, was instead introduced after the Directorate of Welfare implemented a new project in coordination with civil sector garment stores on my directions. I sincerely believe all of you would have by now acquired the benefits of that new scheme.
Similarly, allocating an additional sum of nearly Rs 200 million to the existing Loan payment project, the Loan system was further strengthened, attracting more and more new applicants to the new relief project.
Conduct of ‘Hela Viru Rasa Udanaya’, a mega exhibition of culinary skills of Army personnel for preparation of traditional food varieties has been organized as an annual feature at Nuwara Eliya from April 15 - 22. By showcasing those creative skills of our Army personnel, value of traditional food varieties can be reintroduced to the public while being able to promote our civil relations with the public around the same time, visiting Nuwara Eliya during this season.
It is also timely that we pay attention to many unsuccessful efforts at regional and international levels, adopted by different groups with vested interests who work tirelessly once again to destabilize the country and sow the seeds of separatist ideologies as per their agendas. It is in this context we should challenge such threats by promoting notions of co-existence, harmony and reconciliation in the areas you serve, I firmly believe. Therefore, Sinhala & Tamil New Year should this year be celebrated in the North and East in collaboration with civil groups, promoting our close relations.
Although the majority of our members had been able to share New Year compliments with family members during the festival, we should not forget that there are many homesteads where the festival is marked in the absence of their beloved ones, sons, husbands, brothers, etc at hand. I extend my warm wishes to all of them at this turn of a New Year and thank them for their patience.
Let me also very warmly recall the sacrifices and invaluable services made by disable War Heroes, some of who are confined to a bed elsewhere under Army arrangements. I share my New Year greetings with them too and wish them speedy recovery.
Likewise, I take this opportunity to wish all Army officers both male and female, other ranks, members of their families, family members of our civil staff in the Army, all civil employees, a very happy and prosperous New Year - 2014.
May Triple Gem Bless You!
