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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Alma Mater Colleagues in Kurunegala &;amp; Colombo Felicitate Their Erstwhile Comrade


Fellow-college comrades and Old Boys Associations (OBAs) of Kurunegala Maliyadeva College recently, gave the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake two warm receptions to felicitate him upon his assumption of office as the Army’s 20th Commander of the Army.

The Old Boys Association of Kurunegala and its Colombo Branch in those two separate felicitation ceremonies at Kurunegala ‘Seasons Hotel’ and Hilton Jaic Hotel, Colombo, respectively hosted the new Commander, Lieutenant General Ratnayake, a brilliant product of the College, to separate dinner treats. A large gathering with their spouses attended both ceremonies.

At Kurunegala, the Commander, together with his wife, Mrs Damayanthi Ratnayake on arrival at the entrance to the hotel premises, was warmly welcomed, garlanded and ushered to the venue of the reception in a procession, preceded by traditional Kandyan Ves dancers. Recital of the national anthem signaled the formal commencement of the reception, themed with the epithet, ‘Maliyadevayen Jathikathwayata’ (from Maliyadeva to national status).    

At the time, the Commander’s alma mater, quite close to his heart and soul, is nearing the commemoration of her 125th anniversary, several speakers at the felicitation ceremony, spoke high of the dignity and pride, bestowed upon the Maliyadeva College, following the appointment of Lieutenant General Ratnayake to take reins as the Commander of the Army by the President and the Secretary Defence & Urban Development.

Towards the culmination of the day’s ceremony, Major General (Retd) Sunil Tennakoon, himself an old Maliyadevan, representing the OBA, presented a token souvenir to the Commander of the Army, in the company of OBA’s Chairman, Mr Chandana Guruge, Secretary, Mr Shamin Jayathunga, Treasurer, Mr Sujeewa Ratnayake and OBA’s former Chairman Mr Chandra Jayasekara. Most recent old boys meanwhile presented their erstwhile comrade with a portrait painted in uniform around the same time as the gathering burst into thundering applause.

At Colombo Hilton Jaic Hotel, the Maliyadeva Colombo OBA, felicitated their comrade, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army on his assumption of office as the Commander of the Army.

As they did in Kurunegala, the Commander with his spouse was warmly received to be taken in a procession to the venue of the reception after Lieutenant General Ratnayake arrived there. Lighting of the traditional oil lamp and recital of the national anthem, kicked off the day’s proceedings at the felicitation ceremony as planned by the OBA at Colombo.

The organizers afterwards did the honours by awarding the Commander of the Army with a special memento as the house roared deafeningly with a sense of belonging as one family.

During both receptions, the Commander of the Army recollected his school day memories and paid glittering tribute to his mentors, senior fellow-schoolmates, classmates and all those who organized those felicitation ceremonies which would provide him with enormous inspiration and courage to perform his national duties in a more energetic manner.



 
At Colombo Reception