Published on - 6/23/2004
In order to share a word with his soldiers, deployed in Wanni areas and inspect security arrangements there, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General L.P.Balagalle recently made a formal tour to the areas under Security Forces Headquarters in Wanni.
On his arrival at the Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQ) in Wanni, Major General D.S.K. Wijesooriya, Commander SFHQ extended a warm welcome to Lt. Gen Balagalle before the former accompanied him to the dais where he was accorded a Guard Turn Out in his honour by members of the armed forces in Wanni.
Lt. Gen Balagalle, during his stopover at Vavuniya SFHQ talked to a section of serving Officers and Other Ranks in the area before he took leave of them to proceed to Mannar. Troops in Mannar after he was welcomed by Brigadier Sarath Fernando, Area Commander, Mannar shared their views with their visiting Chief during a tea party rich with traditional sweetmeats before he bade adieu to them and flew to Omanthai.
Lt.Gen. L.P. Balagalle during his brief addresses further reminded of the chances being granted to Sri Lankan soldiers overseas to serve United Nations Peace Keeping Missions in time to come after founding of the new Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL) at Kukuleganga. Lasting peace in the island would increase such opportunities, he asserted.
Director Operations, Brigadier Nimal Jayasuriya, formation Commanders of respective areas and a few other Senior Officers joined this official visit.
