This year’s Army Day ceremonial parade and its composition was certainly a reflection of the high degree of importance the Commander, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, attaches to Sri Lanka’s age-old values and deep-rooted grateful sentiments as well as veneration of his Gurus, Seniors and Pioneering veterans in the profession, reminding us of the Lord Buddha’s discourse, saying ‘Kathangno Kathawedi Pudgalo Dullabo Lokasmi’ (people who show gratitude are very rare in the world).
Thoughtfulness and meticulous planning of the Commander this time, facilitated a large group of past Commanders of the Army, Principal Staff Officers and Seniors from whom the incumbent Commander, had learnt his ABC in military doctrine, to attend the ceremonies as most distinguished stalwarts, many of them, now in their 80s or 90s after retirement having spent an illustrious career spanning decades.
General (retd) Hamilton Wanasinghe, General (retd) Sri Lal Weerasuriya, General (retd) L.P Balagalla, General (retd) Jerry De Silva, all four of them who held the highest office as Commanders of the Army during turbulent times of our contemporary history, the newly-promoted Sri Lanka Light Infantry’s (SLLI) veteran, Lieutenant General (retd) H.V Athukorala, many other former Principal Staff Officers, Directors and veterans, were there as invitees in the ceremony on Friday (10).
Most of them visibly in happy and reflective mood, used the golden and rare opportunity to meet with one another, recalling much-treasured memories and yesteryear warfare experiences, mustering new spirits to the milieu. The Commander entering the parade premises to receive the salute from his troops, at first saluted those former Commanders of the Army, seated separately as VIPs before stepping on to the saluting dais.
No sooner than the parade ended, those veterans were the first to be ushered to the Commander’s office in specially organized vehicles as a symbolic appreciation and honour of their presence and invaluable services. There, the Commander showed around and explained them how the veterans’ memories, have been immortalized inside his office and how much he continues to value their regalia, medals, portraits, photos, mementos, etc in the Commander’s office.
Seconds before those veterans moved out for refreshments, the Commander in another remarkable gesture of gratitude and appreciation, separately presented special mementos to all former Army Commanders and wished them long life after posing for a couple of photos with them as eternal memories.
In the same manner, when the Commander arrived for refreshments in a specially organized building nearby, he hurriedly went to meet those seated former Commanders and greeted them warmly before his partaking of refreshments.
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