23rd August 2022 19:38:05 Hours
The Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), the most prestigious and premier officer training establishment of the Army at Diyatalawa which was re-designated as the SLMA on 20 August 1992 through a Parliamentary Act celebrated its 30th pearl anniversary during 17-20 August with a variety of anniversary projects, attaching prominence to religious sentiments, community-oriented projects and military formalities.
To begin with, a full-day cleaning campaign at the Base Hospital Diyatalawa on 17 August, was conducted with the active participation of over one hundred military personnel before a 'Seth Pirith' chanting (Thunwaru Piritha) started on the following day (18) at the rooftop of the new SLMA Headquarters complex building. An alms-giving ceremony for ten buddhis monks, resident at Sri Sumangalarama Temple, Ellegama was then held on 19 August morning in order to invoke blessings.
On the same day (19), a multi-faith religious ceremony, led by the Chief incumbent of Ellegama Sri SumangalaramaTemple, Kadurugamuwe Ratanawansa Thero, Rev Kurukkal K.R Renganadan Sharma of Arkediya (Muththu Maari) Hindu Kovil, Maulavi Isek Rizad of Grand Jumma Mosque, Balangoda and Rev Father Sam Perera of Diyatalawa Catholic Church got underway and invoked blessings and transferred merits to all late founders and administrators of the SLMA.
The SLMA Monument Drill on the same day (19) commemorated all fallen War Heroes at the SLMA Monument of Peace with a customary parade where the Commandant Major General Nalinda Niyangoda who graced the event as the Chief Guest paid floral gratitude to the memory of those fallen ones. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commandant along with all other Wing Heads also joined in offering flowers to the memory of fallen warriors who laid their lives for the protection of the motherland. Afterwards, a special welfare programme distributed a large stock of incentives among civil staffers and military personnel who passed away while serving at the Academy in the recent past.
The climax of those anniversary highlights reached on 20 August 2022, when an impressive anniversary parade saluted the SLMA Commandant as the Chief Guest. Wreath-laying preceded in memory of the fallen warriors before the commencement of the parade which was comprised of a Colours Squad, a Parade Commander, Second in Command, a Parade Adjutant and eight Squads representing four Wings and four Companies. The Commandant’s address appreciated and admired the exceptional service of the Sri Lanka Military Academy to the nation and the excellent contribution of all former Commandants and their dedicated teams to elevate the Academy to the present standards.
After the ceremonial parade, saplings of ironwood, dragon fruit, pears and guava were planted inside the Academy premises at the auspicious time with the participation of the Commandant and other senior officers. All ranks lunch, headed by the Commandant in the presence of the Officers and other ranks brought the pearl anniversary of the Sri Lanka Military Academy to a conclusion.
The glory of the Sri Lanka Military Academy always remains unparalleled and incomparable when walking through her unique memory lanes. With the dawn of Independence in 1948, the Ceylon Army was formed on 10 Oct 1949 and Diyatalawa was chosen as the best geographical site for military training of the fledging Ceylon Army. Hence, the Army Recruit Training Depot was established and later it was named the Army Training Center (ATC) in 1964. The ATC was awarded the Colours in 1972 by His Excellency the President William Gopallawa. Subsequently, Her Excellency the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on 21 June 1997awarded the President Colours. It was however re-designated as the Sri Lanka Military Academy on 20 August 1992. As of today, it has undergone tremendous transformations in diverse spheres and offers degrees, high diplomas and diplomas in Military Studies in affiliation with the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
