Published on - 10/24/2005
Grand commemorative ceremonies to mark 56th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army got under way at regional level in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Minneriya Security Forces Headquarters on 10th October which also coincided with the Army Day. Commander Major General S.D.Tennakoon, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna commenced day's proceedings in Jaffna after hoisting the Army flag and singing the Army anthem with all ranks at Headquarters premises attaching great significance to the occasion.
Major General Tennakoon then went on to read out the anniversary message sent by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda as troops lined up.
Later on, Jaffna Commander with his Senior Officers visited resident patients at Palaly military hospital and gave away gift parcels to the inmates. He also did not forget to share a couple of words with them.
Troops under 51 and 56 Divisions meanwhile prepared over 1500 lunch packets and distributed them among the masses in Jaffna as part of their community relations. Those parcels were given away by Venerable M. Gnanarathane Thero, Incumbent at Nagavihara in Jaffna and other Senior Officers in the Army, based in Jaffna. Many people lined up there to receive those lunch packets on the occasion.
Anniversary celebrations at Vavuniya commenced after religious observances of all four major denominations were over. On instructions of Major General Parami Kulathunga, Security Forces Commander, Wanni Major General (Retired) Ratna Sabapathy after raising the Army Flag joined others to perform a two-minute silence in memory of all fallen heroes. At the outset, Major General (Retired) Ratna Sabapathy read out the Army Commander's message and spoke a few words about the importance of the Army anniversary and Army Day to all those serving.
He afterwards took part in a tree planting event in the premises before a Shramadana to clean the field hospital premises began with participation of all ranks. Day's proceedings ended after the Wanni Commander joined all ranks for lunch.
Tree planting ceremony, charity work, hoisting of the Army Flag and special addresses marked the Army Day at Security Forces, Headquarters East. Brigadier R. M. Jayasinghe, Brigadier General Staff along with Senior Officers attended the occasion. Training schools and all other installations in the east too had their own respective commemorative ceremonies to mark the day.
