President Makes a Surprise Visit to ITC & Interacts with Samurdhi Trainees

In a Surprise move, HE the President, Maithripala Sirisena, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Tuesday (5) evening dropped in at the Minneriya Infantry Training Centre (ITC) where one Army-organized ‘Leadership Training’ Course, is currently underway for 1904 newly-appointed Samurdhi Officers Island-wide.

President Sirisena was welcomed by Major General Santhusitha Pananwala, Commander, Security Forces - East, together with Brigadier Suraj Bansajaya, Commandant, ITC, Minneriya and Senior Officers.

HE the President had a close interaction with course trainees and received an update in relation to the conduct of the course intending to improve the efficiency of the Samurdhi Officers.

The Army-organized ‘Leadership Training’ Course, which has been sought by the Ministry of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage for the benefit of newly-appointed Samurdhi Officers has now reached its final phase in all island-wide 17 Army training centers. The project is launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Sri Lanka Army.

The Samurdhi Officers’ leadership training programme, organized by the Army Headquarters in-coordination with the Ministry of Defence, together with Ministry of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage for all newly-appointed 1904 Samurdhi Officers, including 1521 female Officers under the theme, ‘Leadership, Positive Attitudes & Moral Development’ commenced on 21 November and is effectively run with the guidelines given by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake.

To be in line with the Commander’s visionary concept that the Army should always set apart one third of its contribution for nation-building, the Army Headquarters in response to the request made to the Ministry of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage in this regard through the Ministry of Defence has accordingly instructed the Army Director General Training, Major General Vijitha Ravipriya to coordinate and facilitate the request.

The leadership training programme for Samurdhi Officers is now underway at the Volunteer Force Training School (VFTS), Diyatalawa, Infantry Training Centre (ITC), Minneriya, Combat Training School (CTS), Ampara, Marksmanship Training School (MSTS), Diyatalawa, Centre for Army Vocational Training (CAVT), Kala Oya, Armoured Corps Training Centre (ACTC), Kalaththewa, 6 Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA), Panagoda, School of Artillery, Minneriya, School of Engineers, Embilipitiya, School of Signals, Buwelikada, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Ambepussa, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps Training School, Dombagoda, Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps Training School, Kuttigala Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Training School, Puttalam, 4 (V) Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, Medawachchiya, 3 (V) Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, Dehiaththakandiya and the National Cadets Corps (NCC) Training School, Rantambe under the direct supervision of the Director General Training at the Army Headquarters.

The team of Army instructors would continue with lectures until 9 December 2017 before the final closing ceremony gets underway.

Major General Santhusitha Pananwala, Commander, Security Forces - East, Brigadier Suraj Bansajaya, Commandant, ITC, Minneriya, Senior Officers, several Senior Samurdhi Officers and government officials were also present during the President's visit to the location.