New SVAB President Receives First Donation
A HELPING hand to provide welfare to War Heroes was extended by Sri Lanka United National Association (SLUNA) in Canada in recognition of Sri Lankan Army soldiers’ dedication towards a terrorism-free country.SLUNA based in Canada on Monday (20) handed over Canadian Dollars 1400 (about Rs 156,000) to the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) at its office in Army Headquarters to be used for a worthy cause. Mrs. Menaka Kurunanayaka, an active member of SLUNA handed over the donation to the new President SVAB Mrs. Manjulika Jayasuriya. The money is to be directly used for construction of a complete bathroom for Private G.A.P.P. Weerasuriya, a disable soldier.
The 22nd Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment (GR) raised recently commenced its official functioning after a brief ceremony held at the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) GR in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura on 20th July 2009. This new Regular Battalion under the command of Major D.R.N. Hettiarachchi will leave for Thunukkai area for duties soon. Maj. D.R.N. Hettiarachchi will be assisted by Maj. M.N. Fernando as the Second in Command, Captain L.H.W.S.I. Silva as the Adjutant and Warrant Officer I (WO I) R.M. Ratnayake as the Regimental Sergeant Major.
NORTH & EAST: ACTING ON INFORMATION, a special Police team from Colombo with assistance of the 231 Brigade troops in WELIKANDA conducted a search operation in the general area of SENAPURA on Tuesday (21) and found another stock of ammunition and weapons & other accessories abandoned by the LTTE. The combined search helped the troops and the Police recover thirteen General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) ammunition, four GPMG drums, five Multi Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) links, three MPMG drums, one thousand and six hundred MPMG ammunition two MPMG tripods,.....
PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that attempts to frame ‘war crime charges’ against security forces commanders at international tribunals by certain international elements and their local agents will never be a success as long as he remains the Commander in Chief. Addressing a UPFA election propaganda rally held at the Pelwatte Sugar plant premises yesterday, President Rajapaksa said some political leaders took great efforts to let the LTTE off the hook when they had been cornered by the security forces on May 18 and 19.
As a part of the scheme for promotion of welfare among the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe, on instructions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, distributed a stock of parcels containing essential items among a section of IDPs in Jaffna on Tuesday (21). Ninety small children and ten pregnant women in the Kopay IDP welfare centre were the recipients of the donations.
THE AIR FORCE is to begin low cost domestic flights to local destinations, Air Force spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said yesterday (21). “The rates will be cheaper than those charged by private domestic air flight providers,” Wing Commander Nanayakkara said adding that the Air Force had provided a limited number of seats to NGO’s at cheap rates for humanitarian visits during the conflict but now they were in a position to provide airplanes and helicopters for commercial use.
NORTH: HERALDING A NEW ERA of Sri Lanka’s post-war revival, a total of five buses bound for COLOMBO from JAFFNA and vice versa with two hundred and ten passengers on both ways undertook their test journey Wednesday (22) morning and met one another at MEDAWACHCHIYA on the way. Five buses started off from the premises, close to Jaffna Doraippa stadium had two hundred and ten Colombo bound passengers for the maiden journey.
FIFTY more children, belonging to War Heroes who sacrificed their lives, arms and limbs to create peace in Sri Lanka were offered scholarships this morning (22) during a brief ceremony organized by Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB). Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army graced the occasion as chief guest on the invitation of the SVAB President Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya. One of Sri Lanka’s leading bankers, Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) and its wing, Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka (MCSL) has generously sponsored each child with a monthly grant of Rs. 1000/= deposited in savings books. Recipients of those.....
Major General G.A. Chandrasiri (Retd) assumed duties as the Governor of the Northern Province recently at the Governor’s Office in Trincomalee. Before being appointed as the Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri served as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Competent Authority for the Northern Province. He is the 3rd Governor for the Northern Province. His assumption of duties preceded multi-religious observances and the occasion was attended by Mrs. Chandrasiri and senior officials of the Northern Provincial Council. 
COMMANDER of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya upon assumption of his office as 19th Commander of the Army paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya to symbolize the importance of the visit presented a special memento to the President who in return extended his best wishes on his new appointment.