Defender of the Nation
Defender of the Nation
Thrice-Blessed Day (Vesak), the most prominent and important phenomenon in the Buddhist calendar fell on Monday (23). It is also regarded by thousands of troops in the Army as an event very close to their hearts, no matter wherever they serve in the island, merely because of its impact on their lives and culture.
The unprecedented scale of reverence and enthusiasm of the masses in Jaffna peninsula towards commemoration of Vesak (Thrice blessed day) to coincide with Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinibbana (passing- away) came to light very vividly early this week (23-24 May) when members of the Armed Forces and the Police jointly threw up a spectacular display of Vesak decorations to match with “Amisa†principles of the Buddhists worldwide.
LTTE’s widespread abuse of relief materials, donated by the Government and various International Aid Agencies, earmarked for Tsunami victims in the north was once again called into question as the LTTE has now begun to use donated new tin sheets for construction of Forward Defence Lines (FDL) and bunkers in Nagar Kovil, Jaffna area.
The fourth training course on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (HR & IHL) for senior Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) of the Army that commences on 01 June 2004 at Panagoda Army Cantonment will go on for three weeks.
The fifth Special Infantry Operational Course (SIOC), conducted in the Jaffna peninsula, saw six Officers and eighty-six Other Ranks pass out recently after their graduation.
Hundreds of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army extended their might during this season of \"Vesak\" in a different manner that fits the Exalted One’s vision based on Metta, Muditha and Upekkha. Those soldiers, having toiled for several days, were to depict their artistic creativity.
Commanding General, US Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) Lieutenant General James L Campbell, who is now in Sri Lanka to attend the inauguration of the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training in Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL) called on the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lt. Gen L. P Balagalle at his office on Thursday (10) afternoon.
The Commander of the Army has approved the relinquishment of appointments and new appointments of the under mentioned senior officers with effect from 12 June 2004.
Kukuleganga, the homestead of legendary warrior, Veediya Bandara alias Prince Vedaya in the Kotte period of this island-nation repeats its history today (June 12, 2004) when the Sri Lanka Army, for the first time in Sri Lanka, ceremonially opens its Institute of Peace Support Operations Training in Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL), meant to improve interoperablility of the troops and enhance their ability to perform peace-keeping and humanitarian assistance missions.