Best Cooks in the Army Given Appreciative Laurels

The recently-raised Catering Battalion of the Army under the Directorate of Supply and Transport (S&T), following a novel concept, mooted by the Commander of the Army, selected their cream in the cooking industry from both Army and civil sector workers serving in island-wide Army formations.

Three best Army cooks and three best civil cooks in the Army, selected after a long process of scrutiny and proper evaluation were felicitated on Tuesday (14) during a simple ceremony.

The project, meant to promote the culinary art, qualitative preparation of foods for Army personnel and broaden the horizons of knowledge on cookery for both Army and civil cooks, was launched at all Security Force Headquarters, Logistics and Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force levels with the conduct of a series of workshops on cookery, through which four (2 Army & 2 Civil) best hands, were screened and chosen to be produced for the final cooking competition, held a few days ago.

A total of 48 most skilled cooks and chefs were accordingly chosen for the final competition, held during April 5 - 6, 2016 at the 6th Artillery Regimental Centre.

The Catering Battalion, commanded by Colonel Erosh Wanigasekara took the initiative of conducting those workshops in the past few months in close coordination with countrywide Army formations on the basis of recommendations received from respective units.

In the final two-day competition at Panagoda, those 48 Army and civil cooks showed their culinary skills in the presence of a panel of professionals, including Mr Nalinda Hettiarachchi, Director of Aquinas University Collage, Mr Rajendra Premakumara, Senior Lecturer of Hotel Clarion, Mr Kapila Jayaneththi, Senior Lecturer of William Angil University, Mr Ranjan Amarasinghe, Principal of the Prima Baking Trading Centre and Mr T. Pubilis Silva, Senior Lecturer and a Director at Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Three winners from both categories (Army & civil) were awarded with valuable certificates, signed by those experts in the panel during a simple ceremony on Tuesday (14).

Major General R. Ratnasingham, Quarter Master General of the Army as the Chief Guest for the occasion gave away those certificates to the winners, together with merit certificates.

Major General A.V Rupasinghe, Director General Supply and Transport, several guests and panelists, Colonel Erosh Wanigasekara, Commanding Officer, Catering Battalion and several officers were present at the occasion.

Best of the Best cooks who received laurels are as follows;

Army

1. Lance Corporal H.P.A Kumara - 1 SLAGSC

2. Lance Corporal L.L.E Sampath - 2 (V) SLASC

3. Lance Corporal P.M.P.T.K Pinnapola - 4 SLAOC

Civil

1. Mr W.W. Sudesha - 142 Brigade

2. Mr R.P.A Sarath Premachandra - 9 SLLI

3. Mr K.H Premasiri - 2 SLRC