Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, all Senior Officers, Other Ranks and Members of the Civil Staff, extend all the Best Wishes to everyone in the New Year – 2015.
The Special New Year Message, issued by the Commander of the Army is as follows;
With the dawn of the New Year – 2015 as the Commander of the Army, I am very pleased and privileged to issue this message of greetings to all of you who risked their lives for the defence of Sri Lanka’s unitary status and the sovereignty.
At the outset, let me pay my tribute to all War Heroes who sacrificed their youthful lives, went missing, became disable while in service during their fight for sovereignty of the motherland. At this moment, I also recall with respect the contribution made by members of the civil staff and their family members.
Let me equally recall the visionary leadership of HE the President and the guidance, being given all the time by the Secretary Defence, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa towards the sustenance of national security after eradicating terrorism that engulfed our motherland.
In the past history of 2500 years, it was the security forces which were at the forefront of defending all sorts of threats that were directed to the national security of the country, a fact that all of us can be proud of. Re-endorsing it once again, we physically eliminated the LTTE terrorism of more than three-decade long which was a major threat to the Sri Lanka’s unitary status and sovereignty.
It is also timely that we reflect on 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 to match with their agendas. It is in this context, we should be aware of the challenges against co-existence, harmony and reconciliation among all ethnicities.
Despite hectic schedules, our Commander-in-Chief used to summon the National Security Council every week and review the status quo in regard to the national security concerns while Hon Secretary Defence evaluates intelligence gathered every week and instructs accordingly for necessary action, a process for which we should also be thankful on behalf of all those who love the country.
Some elements, intending to disrupt the country’s forward-march spread malicious rumours, claiming that our Security Force members, have been reduced to the status of labourers, and such measures are devised to discourage and deviate our members from nation-building roles and national security work.
We all are engaged in the rebuilding of our country by way of erecting mega buildings, urban beautification projects, technical and agricultural infrastructure construction projects, etc which have come in for praise of the first citizen of this country as well as from all the people in the country. We can be humbly happy over the fact that the service of the War Hero, receives a pride of place in all those public ceremonies, etc.
The soldier’s dignity depends on his discipline and it is the professional competence that would turn an Army to be a disciplined organization as I believe.
It is a pleasure to see that training and new technology, required for a highly qualified professional Army, has now been introduced never before to the organization, raising the morale of the soldier. One of our prioritized objectives during this year is the enhancement of training opportunities at local and international levels. This includes proficiency training at private level, battalion training, joint military exercises, international training rounds, language training sessions, etc which are central to the career journey.
All basic issues in terms of food, board and lodging, housing of the soldier, have now been addressed after implementing a special programme in the Army, going to the extent of providing the soldier with a menu, plus the quality food varieties he consumes. Section Heads as well as recipients, should be equally responsible and aware of these improvements.
Thanks to Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, many pre-fabricated billets and residential quarters, have now been introduced in order to resolve the housing problems of the soldiers in a better way and steps have also been taken to raise the quality of your free issues which would be delivered to your respective working places in the year 2015.
I firmly believe by raising the welfare standards of all the soldiers, their living standards as well as the moral courage could be sustained at a higher level. I announced this on the day I assumed office earlier and a series of such projects have now been implemented to our satisfaction.
Particularly, the four-month old new ‘Suwasahana’ loan scheme has begun paying dividends and a total of 16,457 members have by now obtained a sum of Rs 11,500 m under the project as loans. Similarly, the Army Seva Vanitha Unit continues its welfare role uninterruptedly and will further spread its wings in the year 2015, too. Loans, disaster relief loans and property loans, applied by our members, but not hitherto paid, were made available to them within a short span, following special patronage, extended by the President. In the year 2015, motorbikes are to be given on concessionary rates to those below the Major rank and Other Rankers, for which we are grateful to the President and the government.
At the same time, ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ project of the Ministry of Defence and its Seva Vanitha Unit has already given above 2000 new houses or completed ones to the deserving sections in the organization including those in the Ipalogama housing project.
Retired personnel, members of the families of dead Army personnel, have now been provided with welfare facilities under a special programme, implemented by the Directorate of Veterans. Similarly, in order to provide economic strength to the retirees, a special project in the New Year is being organized to grant them a monetary assistance which can be used productively. Another objective is to set up a special job bank, meant to train retiring Army personnel to achieve vocational potentials as they go on retirement.
State, Agricultural economy and Buddhist philosophy remain the three major cornerstones of our 2500 year long history which strengthened our unity and sovereignty. With the noble notion of promoting a righteous and a healthy nation, a special religious programme, termed ‘Samma Sankappa’, has been launched with the labour support of the troops and spending more than Rs 500 m for redevelopment of religious places of major faiths. This is aimed at promoting religious values and spiritual advancement in society.
In order to cut down the costs for Army logistics and services, the newly-inaugurated Army Industry, has now been operational and the project is to be further expanded, including production of clothes, accessories and appliances in the 2015. Our target is to reach the 100% production level as a self-help project which will save the Army about Rs 2,500 m every year. I believe that we should field privileged to have been partners to the country’s march towards its goal, ‘Wonder of Asia’.
In the sphere of sports and athletics, Sri Lanka Army, has fared brilliantly and this field is to be further improved to make new records in the coming year. By now, a full-fledged sports complex with most modern accessories, is under construction at Panagoda Army cantonment and it will be completed in 2015. Likewise, each Security Force Headquarters has been awarded a sports complex for promotion of sports among all ranks. The scheduled Inter Security Force Headquarters Sports Tournament in the year 2015 for the first time, will make a new start in this direction and enable us to secure international records, I strongly believe.
Finally, may those fallen War Heroes as well as members of the civil staff who perished in the fight against terrorism attain ‘Nibbana’ and I would like to wish those family members a very prosperous New Year. Likewise, all those still recovering, having sustained injuries in the War for Peace be well and happy. Let me wish all serving officers, other ranks and members of the civil staff as well as all their family members, a very happy and prosperous New Year.
In the year 2015, I am confident that the glory and reputation the Army, has achieved as a set of productive and disciplined soldiers, will continue to foster further by way of acquired strength, courage, wisdom, knowledge, presence of mind, understanding and fortune. I wish you good luck in all your endeavours.
