Council for National Unity (CNU), comprised of leading Tamil businessmen recently, felicitated the new Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake at a special ceremony, held at Galadari Hotel, Colombo.
The CNU, appreciative of the invaluable services Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake rendered for the benefit of thousands of ex-child combatants in his capacity as the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation earlier during the years 2009 - 2010, congratulated him on his assumption of duties as the Commander of the Army and hailed Lieutenant General Ratnayake’s tenure of office as the former Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. This was the first such felicitation ever organized by the CNU in honour of an incumbent Commander of the Army.
In a historic move as stated by the organizers of the CNU themselves, Lieutenant General Ratnayake during the ceremony was garlanded with more than 25 gold Shalwars (ponnadai), plus a sandalwood garland, amidst cheers and applause, a unique gesture of the highest admiration and genuine appreciation in accordance with Hindu traditions bestowed on a personage. Organizers of the event were however compelled to restrict continuous spree of garlanding of Lieutenant General Ratnayake at the occasion by the head table in view of the time factor during the occasion.
CNU Chairman, Mr B Eswaran, CNU Treasurer, Mr Vicknesh Sundaralingam during their speeches and presentations spoke high of exceptional humane attitudes and innovative approaches, rehabilitation modules and interactive methods Lieutenant General Ratnayake applied for rehabilitation of those misled youngsters with a flavour of Hindu and Catholic religious sentiments.
Mr B. Eswaran in his presentation to the gathering said that if not for the Bureau of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, the fate of some 12,000 ex-combatants at that stage would have been of a different story. ‘In fact, I myself had the chance of seeing all 12,000 combatants while they were at Poonthottam camp under rehabilitation and found that they had been provided all what they required contrary to what had been reported in some media. Then only I realized the commendable service of Army officers attending to those misled youngsters,’ he said.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake soon after assuming office as Commissioner General of Rehabilitation turned to us for guidance and assistance in the rehabilitation process, he further stated. ‘He initiated conduct of Hindu religious sermons and Bajan recital for those rehabilitees who really became mentally relieved afterwards as a result. His vision and care in this regard enabled us to lavishly help this cause. Those Army officers’ roles need to be appreciated and projected in correct perspective to the outside world and that was why this felicitation was organized, the Chairman added.
Speaking further, he added the mass wedding of 53 couples among rehabilitees after those relationships were identified, brought about a new chapter of transformation in human society. ‘This project, identified by Lieutenant General Ratnayake and later successfully implemented by his successor, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe was a turning point in our history in the aftermath of the destructive war, Mr Eswaran added.
Mr Vicknesh Sundaralingam in his address to the occasion reminded that the CNU, comprised of Tamil businessmen would assist the Army with its humanitarian projects whenever they need, placing the correct image of the Army before the public since hardly anything is published on the good side of the story.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake in his brief acknowledgement to the occasion, called upon the gathering to shed all differences to foster a new beginning for our future generations since it is vested in our hands. ‘Let us venture out restoring the lost trust and friendship our forefathers enjoyed before colonialism took place. We should not forget that we belong to similar cultures with ‘Ahimsa’ at the helm of all religious teachings, the Commander of the Army said.
Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Military Secretary and former Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and a few more senior officers were associated with the felicitation ceremony.
The CNU, appreciative of the invaluable services Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake rendered for the benefit of thousands of ex-child combatants in his capacity as the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation earlier during the years 2009 - 2010, congratulated him on his assumption of duties as the Commander of the Army and hailed Lieutenant General Ratnayake’s tenure of office as the former Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. This was the first such felicitation ever organized by the CNU in honour of an incumbent Commander of the Army.
In a historic move as stated by the organizers of the CNU themselves, Lieutenant General Ratnayake during the ceremony was garlanded with more than 25 gold Shalwars (ponnadai), plus a sandalwood garland, amidst cheers and applause, a unique gesture of the highest admiration and genuine appreciation in accordance with Hindu traditions bestowed on a personage. Organizers of the event were however compelled to restrict continuous spree of garlanding of Lieutenant General Ratnayake at the occasion by the head table in view of the time factor during the occasion.
CNU Chairman, Mr B Eswaran, CNU Treasurer, Mr Vicknesh Sundaralingam during their speeches and presentations spoke high of exceptional humane attitudes and innovative approaches, rehabilitation modules and interactive methods Lieutenant General Ratnayake applied for rehabilitation of those misled youngsters with a flavour of Hindu and Catholic religious sentiments.
Mr B. Eswaran in his presentation to the gathering said that if not for the Bureau of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, the fate of some 12,000 ex-combatants at that stage would have been of a different story. ‘In fact, I myself had the chance of seeing all 12,000 combatants while they were at Poonthottam camp under rehabilitation and found that they had been provided all what they required contrary to what had been reported in some media. Then only I realized the commendable service of Army officers attending to those misled youngsters,’ he said.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake soon after assuming office as Commissioner General of Rehabilitation turned to us for guidance and assistance in the rehabilitation process, he further stated. ‘He initiated conduct of Hindu religious sermons and Bajan recital for those rehabilitees who really became mentally relieved afterwards as a result. His vision and care in this regard enabled us to lavishly help this cause. Those Army officers’ roles need to be appreciated and projected in correct perspective to the outside world and that was why this felicitation was organized, the Chairman added.
Speaking further, he added the mass wedding of 53 couples among rehabilitees after those relationships were identified, brought about a new chapter of transformation in human society. ‘This project, identified by Lieutenant General Ratnayake and later successfully implemented by his successor, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe was a turning point in our history in the aftermath of the destructive war, Mr Eswaran added.
Mr Vicknesh Sundaralingam in his address to the occasion reminded that the CNU, comprised of Tamil businessmen would assist the Army with its humanitarian projects whenever they need, placing the correct image of the Army before the public since hardly anything is published on the good side of the story.
Lieutenant General Ratnayake in his brief acknowledgement to the occasion, called upon the gathering to shed all differences to foster a new beginning for our future generations since it is vested in our hands. ‘Let us venture out restoring the lost trust and friendship our forefathers enjoyed before colonialism took place. We should not forget that we belong to similar cultures with ‘Ahimsa’ at the helm of all religious teachings, the Commander of the Army said.
Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Military Secretary and former Commissioner General of Rehabilitation and a few more senior officers were associated with the felicitation ceremony.
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