21st April 2016 02:25:18 Hours
Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) Regiment, one of the most prestigious regiments in the Army, more popularly known as gunners, is 128 years of age now and a series of anniversary programmes to coincide with it have been scheduled.
On Wednesday (20), the inaugural segment of the anniversary programme got off the ground at the SLA Regimental Headquarters at Panagoda by paying tribute to the memory of fallen SLA War Heroes at the monument in the premises.
General (Retd) Sri Lal Weerasuriya, a former Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest attended the inaugural ceremony where floral wreaths were laid at the monument. Colonel of the Regiment, SLA, Major General Sumith Manawaduge after welcoming the Chief Guest accompanied him for floral wreath laying.
As the dusk fell, an all night Pirith chanting ceremony began with the participation of a large gathering of monks. The religious ceremonies were scheduled to end with offer of Heel Dana to the Maha Sangha, Thursday (21) morning.
A large gathering of retired SLA officers, other rankers and serving gunners took part in the inaugural ceremony.
The military formalities, connected to the anniversary ceremonies will get underway on Saturday (23).
