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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

15th December 2015 20:55:04 Hours

Armoured Corps Turns 60 & Marks Its Anniversary with Elaborate Events

Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC), one of the most senior Regiments in the Army and boasts a string of great achievements in its history of 60 years commemorated its Diamond Jubilee and Corps Day on Tuesday (Dec 15), giving pride of place to military ceremonies and welfare projects at the SLAC Regimental Headquarters in Rock House Camp, Modera, Colombo 15.  

A Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour greeted Major General Milinda Peiris, Colonel Commandant, SLAC at its Regimental Headquarters when he arrived at the venue after he was received by Brigadier D.T Gamage, Centre Commandant, SLAC. The day’s Chief Guest Major General Milinda Peiris reviewed the parade and received the salute afterwards.

The second leg of the day’s ceremony began with the award of symbolic mementos to all the Regimental Units in appreciation of their commitment to the service in the SLAC.

The ceremony reached its climax with the launch of a special SLAC History Book that documented the chain of important milestones during 2005 - 2015. The maiden copy of the history book was presented to the day’s Chief Guest at first and to several other senior officers. Later on, distribution of scholarships among children of SLAC War Hero families, sponsored by the SLAC Veterans Association, got underway as another incentive to the SLAC War Hero families.

On the same occasion, a distribution of books, organized by the SLAC Seva Vanitha Unit got underway, headed by Mrs Nilanjani Peiris, Chairperson, SLAC Seva Vanitha Unit as one more feature of the Diamond Jubilee commemorative ceremonies.  

As the third leg of the 60th Anniversary ceremonies, all ranks in the SLAC participated in an entertaining programme which had a variety of fun-making events such as musical chairs, hurdle racing, balloon bursting, lime balancing, 100 m run, etc, together with a few special games for kids who were present at the occasion.                  

The SLAC anniversary commemorative programmes got to a start with multi-religious programmes that commenced on 4 December at SLAC Regimental Headquarters. An all-night Pirith chanting ceremony invoked blessings on the SLAC anniversary and the occasion was attended by a large gathering of senior and junior officers, together with other rankers.

After an alms-giving to Buddhist monks, the following day, separate religious observances of Christian, Hindu and Islamic denominations followed respectively at St. Andrew’s Church, Mutwal, Sri Venkateshwara Kovil, Mutwal, Jumma Mosque, Mutwal.       

On Sunday (12), the anniversary events entered another significant phase with the opening of the first-ever Armour War Heroes Memorial Park at SLAC Camp.   

It was opened by General (retd) Rohan Daluwatte, Chancellor, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) at the invitation of SLAC Colonel Commandant, Major General Milinda Peiris. Chief of Staff Major General Jagath Dias and several senior officers were present at that SLAC war memorial opening ceremony.  

The anniversary celebrations culminate with a formal mess night at the Officers’ Mess at the SLAC Regimental Headquarters.

Earlier, a musical entertainment to raise funds for welfare work of SLAC War Heroes was also held at Ratmalana Stein Studio of the Sirasa TV.