30th September 2022 13:56:01 Hours
A representative gathering of Muslim Officers and Other Rankers in the Army who assembled at Colpetty Jumma Mosque this morning (26) joined a special Islamic prayer session to bless the forthcoming 73rd Army Anniversary and the Army Day as one more segment of multi-religious anniversary observances.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest for the occasion was received on arrival by Brigadier Ashker Mutaliph, Chairman, Army Muslim Association, together with Lieutenant Colonel Pirosh Jalal, Secretary and members of the Board of Trustees at Colpetty Jummah Mosque.
The chief clergy (Moulavi) invited all of them to join the prayer sessions after decorating the holy place in conformity with Islamic religious traditions. Trilingual welcome speeches made by the clergy announced the importance of the event before the proceedings got underway.
The customary Islamic religious sermon, ‘Bayan’ then invoked blessings symbolically on Army flags and the organization, lauding the services of the Army, being rendered for the best interests of the country. The Moulavi conducted the special ‘Qirath’ prayer chanting and performed the wishful prayers, ‘Dua’ according to the sequence of Islamic invocations.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army after culmination of the special Islamic religious ceremony made a financial donation towards the development of the holy premises and shared his views with Moulavis on co-existence, harmony and reconciliation and the vision he has for the Army in future.
The event, organized by the Army Muslim Association was attended by a large number of Muslims serving the Army, together with civil devotees.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage towards the end of the religious ceremony presented a memento to the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Colpetty Jumma Mosque as a gesture of goodwill. The Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees, Colpetty Jumma Mosque reciprocated the move.
On the same occasion, Al-Haj Kaleel Mohamad, Chairman, Board of Trustees, in return, presented a memento to the day’s Chief Guest, Commander of the Army, as an appreciation on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Similarly, The Secretary, Board of Trustees, awarded a copy of the Holy Quran to the Commander of the Army as a token of goodwill. Monday’s religious ceremony was the 3rd in sequence that has been organized to coincide with the 73rd Army Anniversary. Earlier, flag blessing ceremonies took place at Kataragama and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya at Anuradhapura.
Chief of Staff, Major General TJ Kodithuwakku RWP RSP ndu, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major Major General CD Weerasuriya RWP RSP ndu, Principle Staff Officers and a host of Senior Officers were present during the prayers.
