The victorious Sri Lanka Army, now dubbed as the prime mover behind post-conflict revival and the most-sought service provider of the country, turns 65 years of age on Friday (Oct 10, 2014). Founded in 1949 as then 'Ceylon Army', but changed to be called the Sri Lanka Army in the year 1972 after Ceylon became a Republic, is the most respected, if not the most admired service provider of the country in the post-war scenario, mainly due to its unmatched warfare achievements in the humanitarian operations that eradicated terrorism from the Mother Lanka in May 2009.
Stunning battlefield supremacy against the world's most dreaded terrorists, having suffered for more than three decades of bloodshed and mayhem, took the world by surprise as there prevailed no other Army in our contemporary history which had been that successful in eliminating terrorism from their respective lands, no matter how powerful they would be.
Today with its 25 Regiments, the Sri Lanka Army with its multi-faceted development-oriented nation-building roles, has emerged as the most effective and visibly result-oriented organization in the country while performing commendable community services in every corner of the island, majority of which are in the war-affected north and east.
Under the auspices of HE the President as the Commander-in-chief and the able guidance of the Secretary Defence, the incumbent 20th Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, is determined and committed to continue its sacred roles uninterruptedly for the betterment of the Nation and the organization in the years to come.
Friday’s (10) elaborate Army Day ceremonies at MoD grounds that present a salute to the Commander of the Army, comprise a parade, troops address, flag hoisting, tribute to the memory of fallen War Heroes, visit to the Ragama Ranaviru Sevana and an all-rank tea party. An all-night Pirith chanting at Panagoda Bodhirajaramaya tonight and an alms-giving ceremony, the following day, culminates the ceremonies.
As the precursor to the Army 65th anniversary, a series of religious observances at Sri Dalada Maligawa, Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Kataragama Kiri Vehera and Devalaya, Islamic, Christian and Hindu places of worship and service, invoked blessings on the Army, beginning in the final week of September 2014.
