SLNG Remembers Its War Heroes on SLNG Regimental Day

Troops of the Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) giving due respect and prominence to its fallen War Heroes commemorated their 27th anniversary on Wednesday (1) with several programmes, lined up at the SLNG Regimental Headquarters in Weherawatte, Kurunegala.

The event was graced by the SLNG Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Piyal Wickramaratne as the Chief Guest, accompanied by a large gathering of retired and serving Senior Officers, Officers, Other Rankers, ladies of the SLNG Seva Vanitha Unit, in addition to family members of deceased SLNG War Heroes.

Colonel Nalin Bandaranayake, Deputy Centre Commandant, SLNG welcomed the day’s Chief Guest, Major General Piyal Wickramaratne, SLNG Colonel of the Regiment on arrival at the venue.

At the War Hero monument premises, a two-minute silence in memory of all War Heroes kicked off the day’s agenda, amid religious observances of all major religions, before the SLNG Colonel of the Regiment laid a floral wreath at the foot of the memorial. Retired Senior Officers and family members of fallen War Heroes followed suit and paid their respect afterwards recalling heroic acts of those SLNG War Heroes.

The memorial ceremony reached its end with the sounding of the Last Post and the Reveille in accordance with military formalities before trumpeters added their ceremonial melodies to mark the culmination of honours.

To be in line with military formalities, a Guard Turnout and a parade accorded a salute to the SLNG Colonel of the Regiment in the presence of Brigadier D.H.M.W.B Thammita, SLNG, Centre Commandant and a gathering of SLNG family members the same day.

Afterwards, a sapling was planted at the SLNG premises by the Colonel of the Regiment, followed by a spectacular drill display and a group photograph. They were among major features in the day’s itinerary.

The day’s SLNG programme reached its climax with an All Rank lunch, headed by the Colonel of the Regiment, the same afternoon.

A ‘Pirith’ chanting ceremony on 27, October to invoke blessings on the SLNG, followed by the ‘Heel Daana’ (breakfast) and the alms (Sangeeka Daana), the following day to members of the Maha Sangha, added more importance to anniversary events.

This anniversary event was attended by Chairperson, SLNG-SVU Mrs Ruvini Sujeewa Wickramaratna, host of invitees including former Colonels of the Regiment, former Centre Commandants, Regimental Council members, Commanding Officers, Regimental Staff Officers, along with other SLNG Officers and Other Ranks including regimental Sergeant Majors of the SLNG.