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MSTS Riflemen Recognized with Prizes Awarded by Commander


Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army as the second segment of his itinerary in Diyatalawa on Thursday (27), took part in the prize-giving ceremony for best shooters and snipers who shone in the Inter Regiment Practical Rifle Meet - 2014, organized by Diyatalawa Marksmanship and Sniper Training School (MSTS) at the Field Firing Range.

Brigadier N.D.S.P Niwunhella, Chairman, Army Small Arms Association, together with Colonel D.S.D Welikala, Commandant, MSTS, received the Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest on arrival at the firing range which has worn ceremonial garbs with elaborate arrangements for the day.

Major General Crishantha de Silva, Chief of Staff, Major General E.P de Z Abeysekara, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General S.W.L  Daulagala, Director General, General Staff, Major General E.M.M Ambanpola, Colonel Commandant, Engineer Service Regiment, Major General Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor, Kotelawala Defence University, Major General Prasanna Silva, Commander, ARTRAC, Major General E.K.J.K Wijesiri, Provost Marshal, Major General L.B.R Mark, Gemunu Watch Colonel of the Regiment, Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Central, Divisional Secretary for Haputale, General Officers Commanding, Brigade Commanders, Army Media Advisor, several principals, teachers and students of Haputale and Bandarawela leading schools, special invitees and a large gathering of officers and other ranks, joined together to witness the mammoth spectacle, coloured with several live practical demonstrations, named as ‘sweep the enemy’, ‘man versus man’, etc.

The Inter Regiment Practical Rifle Meet - 2014, competed by 19 Regiments comprised  271 shooters, including 23 open groups, 17 novice groups and 31 single competitors, recording the highest number, ever participated in the history of rifle shooting in the Army.

Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake afterwards gave away Championship Trophies to the winners. In the Open Division, Gajaba Regiment shooters emerged Champions while second and third places went to Gemunu Watch and Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment shooters respectively.

In the Novice Division, the Championship was grabbed by Gemunu Watch shooters. Special Forces and Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment received Runners-Up slots.

Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC) was adjudged the Best Service Regiment in the Meet. Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC) and Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP) secured second and third Runners-Up places.

Lance Corporal M.M.N. Koswatte of Gajaba Regiment, having shown his colours in all the Divisions became the Best Shooter in the tournament.      

Those Army personnel excelled in practical rifle shooting received prizes on the occasion from the day’s Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake. Of them, only the best 38 received prizes from the Chief Guest in the ceremony.

Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, delivering a brief address to the occasion pointed out that one cannot speak of an Army without shooting and sniping because those shooters are the ones at the forefront of a war situation.

“We have to look beyond national achievements in the field of shooting and must expand our entry into the regional as well as the international field of shooting. All arrangements to improve the field of shooting in the Army are now in place and we expect more and more Army personnel to make use of such training and reach high levels in shooting”, the Commander said. 

The event that showcased model rifle, pistol and sniper shooting demonstrations during the ceremony in the famous Nariyakanda plains where the Army’s MSTS is located, drew the attention of all on-lookers as those demonstrations, evoked thrill and excitement, not visible to the naked eye generally in society.

Rifle shooting as part of military training has assumed special significance after the Army founded the Small Arms Association and the Marksmanship and Sniper Training School (MSTS) at Diyatalawa where officers and soldiers, interested in further improving their practical shooting skills, more or less as a sport.

Under the able guidance of top class rifle trainers of the Army, budding riflemen in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Defence Force undergo training in the MSTS on a regular basis. An average of 700 officers and other ranks receive training per year at the MSTS, each attending a 15-day basic or an intermediate course. In the year 2013, the MSTS produced 638 skilled riflemen from the tri-services.

However, the MSTS this year expects to increase the number of trainees to 800 due to the swelling demand for such training, according to Colonel D.S.D Welikala, Commandant, MSTS.

Brigadier N.D.S.P Niwunhella, Chairman, Army Small Arms Association welcoming the gathering admitted that the enormous interest in shooting in the Army was due to excellent achievements those shooters have made in the year 2013 while taking part in National, Defence Service and island-wide competitions.

Major General Crishantha de Silva, Major General E.P de Z Abeysekara, Major General E.M.M Ambanpola and Major General Milinda Peiris joined in distribution of prizes and certificates. D.S.D Welikala, Commandant, MSTS proposed the vote of thanks.