Army Commander speaks to his men in Jaffna

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda with a view to assessing most recent security developments in the peninsula and speaking to the troops paid a brief official visit to Jaffna on Thursday (18 August 2005).

Major General S.D Tennakoon, Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna received the Commander of the Army on his arrival at the Palaly Airport and conducted him to the Jaffna Headquarters where he was briefed on security developments.

Commander of the Army, who was accompanied by a few Directors from Army Headquarters afterwards, visited Kilaly Air Mobile Training enclave where he addressed a cross section of Army officers serving in Jaffna Peninsula on current security issues. In that speech, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the Ceasefire Agreement. He also reviewed current training programmes and discussed about preparations and contingencies in regard to threat perception in the Jaffna peninsula.

Subsequently, the Commander of the Army went to Thanankillappu where he had a working lunch with senior military commanders in the peninsula including Major General N.A Jayasooriya, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Division, Brigadier S.G Karunaratne General Officer Commanding, 52 Division and others before he proceeded to Kachchai area in order to inspect security arrangements and also to look into other needs of his men.

The Commander of the Army after completing his brief visit to the North returned to Colombo, the same day evening.