Army Troops Provide Technical & Engineering Skills for Repairs in East-based Temples

Troops of 22, 23 and 24 Divisions under command to the Security Force Headquarters -East (SFHQ-E) under the guidance of the Commander, Security Forces-East, Major General Channa Weerasuriya and respective General Officers Commanding of East-based Divisions are currently offering their technical and engineering expertise and manpower for renovation of several Buddhist temples in Trincomalee, Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts which had remained unattended for some time.

General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army in response to many requests for such assistance directed the SFHQ-E to prioritize the most deserving in the Eastern province at first and extend the support to elsewhere as deemed appropriate.

Accordingly, renovations, constructions and repairs at ancient Kottiyarama Rajamaha Viharaya in Pachchanur, Lunugala Rajamaha Viharaya and Lankarama Rajamaha Viharaya in Gomarankadawala, Samudragiri Pichchamale Rajamaha Viharaya in Kuchchaweli and the historic Girihanduseya in Thiriyaya have been undertaken by troops of the 22 Division in Trincomalee.

In the 23 Division's area of responsibility, troops are attending to the repairs at Kalukele Sri Sugatharama Viharaya in Dimbulagala, Sri Shailabimbarama Viharaya in Bakamuna, Sri Aggrabodhi Viharaya in Gallella, Sri Shanthi Nikethanaramaya in Somawathiya, Unagala Wehera Rajamaha Viharaya in Giritale, Sri Mahindarama Viharaya in Mailankarachchi and Siri Perakum Maha Pirivena in Pulathisigama in the Polonnaruwa district.

Meanwhile, 24 Division troops in the Ampara district are engaged in the repairs of Ampara Aranthalawa Viharaya, Sri Owagiri Rajamaha Viharaya in Polwaththa, Uththara Jayamaha Viharaya in Hingurana, historic Deegawapiya Rajamaha Viharaya in Ampara, Kotawehera Deegalaka Viharaya in Lahugala and Sri Vidyananda Pirivena in Ampara.

These construction projects undertaken by the SFHQ-East as part of their civil-military co-operation initiatives are closely supervised by respective Brigades and Commanding Officers of those battalions.