01st April 2017 07:11:00 Hours
The new Commander of the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi assumed office this morning (30), amidst religious and military formalities.
A Guard Turn-Out and a Guard of Honour by 10 Field Engineers Regiment troops in accordance with military traditions first greeted the new SF-J Commander upon his arrival at the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J).
A brief observance of religious rites, comprised of ‘Seth Pirith’ chanting invoked blessings on the new appointment before Major General Hettiarachchi placed his signature in an official document to signify the acceptance of his new office. General Officers Commanding of 51 and 52 Divisions and Senior Staff Officers of the SFHQ-J attended the brief ceremony.
Several Buddhist monks and priests from other denominations were also present at the SFHQ-J office to extend their blessings on the new appointment.
A few minutes later, the new Commander was invited to plant a Mango sapling in the premises as symbol of memory. He also formally addressed the troops and urged everyone’s cooperation to carry out his duties.
As the final leg of the day’s programme, the new Jaffna Commander sat with All Ranks for a fellow-lunch treat at the Corporals’ Club of the SFHQ-J.
Before being appointed as the Commander SF-J, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi served as the Commander, SF- East.
Having joined the Sri Lanka Army Regular Force in March 1984, Major General Hettiarachchi, was posted as a Second Lieutenant to the Sri Lanka Engineers Regiment on 16 November 1985. During his career spanning over 33 years, he has held many Command and Staff appointments and served in many operational areas. Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi had also attended many local and foreign professional courses during his career.
Major General Hettiarachchi is a Graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh (1997/1998). He successfully completed the training programme, ‘Mastering Education of Strategic and Resilience Studies’ at the National Resilience Institute (equivalent to a National Defence University) in Indonesia from 2 July 2013 to 9 October 2014. Further, he has obtained a Masters Degree in ‘Conflict Resolution’ from the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Colombo in 2005.
Major General Hettiarachchi who was appointed the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms in February 2012 held that appointment until July 2013. His contribution to transform ex-LTTE combatants to be peace-loving useful citizens in Sri Lanka was highly commended by relevant authorities. Although Major General Hettiarachchi is an officer from the Corps of Engineers of the Sri Lanka Army, he had been awarded the ‘Rana Shura Padakkama’ (RSP) on three occasions for his acts of bravery in facing the enemy in the battlefield during early stages of his career. Furthermore, he is a senior comrade at the National Security Think Tank of the Institute of National Security Studies, Sri Lanka.
Before being appointed as the Commander SF (J), Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi served as the Commander Security Forces - East. He is a proud past pupil of Colombo Ananda College and married to Mrs. Ajantha Kumari Liyanarachchi and blessed with two daughters, Nethra and Ashvini.
Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi was the successor to Major General Mahesh Senanayake who was elevated to the office of Chief of Staff in the Army.
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