Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army visited Defence Services Command & Staff College (DSCSC), the prestigious academic platform for tri-service officers at Sapugaskanda Monday (3) morning and delivered the year’s customary ‘Commander’s Address’ to the student officers as the guest speaker.
Upon his arrival at this seat of military learning that promotes the professional knowledge and understanding both in command and on the staff, was warmly received by Major General J.C Rambukpotha, Commandant, DSCSC. A Guard Turnout at the entrance to the premises saluted him in conformity with military formalities.
The day’s guest contributor, hailing the efforts of the DSCSC to this date, devoted his time to reminiscence how the Army transformed itself from a war-fighting one to that of a peace time Army within a span of three and half years, fortunately without undergoing any single instance of post-conflict trauma episode as far as Army men are concerned and simultaneously spell out how the Army would shine in the future.
Elaborating on the structural changes that have been introduced to the organization in the past few years upon his assumption of duties, the Commander pointed out how new Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQs), new Directorates, new formations and re-designations were raised and suppressing of certain units took place as necessary while linking the Army Headquarters by now directly to all SFHQs, 14 Division Headquarters and all Regimental Centres for better integration through local area networks and emails. This integration has led to paperless correspondence, live meetings, audio and video conferencing, online file transferring and sharing inside the organization, he said.
Commenting on career employment prospects for middle rank officers, the Commander said that the previous stream-based system has now been annulled and all officers are employed under arms / services and log professionals. Your qualifications are based now on merits and professional attainments. So are the appointments for you in the future, he added.
In the next 3 years, priority will be given to the development of training after the proper development of the infrastructure in the past three years was completed. The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) which will be an indispensable wing for any professional Army, has now been established and all top level strategy making being done. On the same lines, the Officers Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala and several training wings have been raised simultaneously doubling intakes of trainees, to be on par with the Army strength, now around 200,000. In the same vein, the newly raised Education Corps of the Army will enlist 100 English instructors to the Army, purely for language training next year, he added.
A lot of foreign Armies have shown interest in sharing our experiences and training. We are getting more and more foreign military officers for training and the Exercise Cormorant Strike as a multinational exercise was attended by 5 countries, Pakistan, India, Maldives, China & Bangladesh. We have now in Army offering four courses to foreign military trainees.
The Defence Seminar, now a major annual event in the Army calendar as a routine feature has been successfully staged with the participation of 44 countries early this year, and preparations for the next year’s are already in progress, he specified.
My personal association with Chinese authorities when I was following the ndu course enabled me to get a new state of the auditorium to the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy with a 1000 seating capacity and it will be done very soon as a grant with its construction of the headquarters building. They will start construction very soon and I feel very proud of this, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.
Training opportunities offered by foreign Armies to the Sri Lanka Army, he said, are on the increase. China has increased it tremendously and we are benefited.
At the same time, career progression with functional appointments regularized has upgraded and newly created ranks of Majors General, Brigadiers, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, thus adding more prospects to the promotion structure. We have got the approval of the treasury to make it a functional Army so that we can promote officers and there won’t be any stagnation as in the past, the Commander said.
To ensure smooth administration after fighting of 30 long years, routine inspection of all regiments and SFHQs have been now completed, updating and inspection on training schools is still underway. We have to ensure proper records as regards ammunition stocks, all documents and records are maintained. In the future Army, even if a single round is lost, you are accountable because it is now peace-time Army and no room should be left for things like that. The peacetime Army is difficult and challenging, and wartime Army was more bent on speedy winning. That is the difference. The management in peacetime is very difficult unlike in the war-time, the Commander underlined.
We are now fully accounting each and everything in field formations and maintaining records. All directors go there and find solutions to those lapses and find remedies. It is very important all accounts are accurately maintained and the Chief of Staff has been directed to do this, he said.
Our participation in Haiti is getting less as normalcy is returned to that country. He also mentioned how Army troops both arms and services joined UN peace keeping operations in Haiti, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan, Western Sahara and New York. He told the gathering that 28 military officers of the Army are serving in those countries as military observers and staff officers. Once you qualify in psc, you are able to apply for staff appointments.
Army is spearheading humanitarian demining work and in a year’s time, we will be able to finish the project. We have over 1000 de-miners and over 20 machines. Our other involvement is nation building. We have acquired lots of land for agriculture, and are purchasing paddy for own consumption and helping the farmers to strike a balance in pricing. Army troops are now taking more and more to development roles in the country. Involvement in Agriculture Projects, Paddy Purchasing and Milling, Major Earth Work Projects, Major Construction Projects etc are a few such ventures. We are handling machines donated by China and doing that for other state departments at their request. Re-branding of Army hotels as “Laya Resorts” is another venture to be in line with the prospering tourist industry, he said.
Foreign participation in military ceremonies and the visits of the Chief of Army Staff, including HE Gen Lian Guanglie, Minister of National Defence, China, Gen Jaoquim Silva E Luna, Chief of Staff, Brazilian Army, Lt Gen A.K Singh, Comd, Southern Command, Indian Army and Lt Gen A.S Rana, Chairman HIT, Pakistan, are reflective of the goodwill and good relations that are sustained with the Sri Lanka Army.
Indian Chief of Army Staff is to review the passing out parade at the Sri Lanka Military Academy after his arrival on 19th instant here. It is the first time in history the Indian Army Chief is taking a salute from the Diyatalawa officers during a passing out parade, he pointed out.
Likewise, we reciprocated. Other countries also honoured Sri Lanka Army by inviting us to review the commissioning Parade of the Indian Military Academy Dehradun in December 2011 and be a state guest of the People’s Republic of China in June 2012. I attended these occasions as the Commander of the Army.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya towards the latter part of his speech, touched on the question of welfare and rehabilitation among members of the Army. Construction of wellness resorts like ‘Abhimansala’ for the dependent soldiers is a milestone. Recovery of those who were wounded in action was a better achievement as a result of these wellness resorts. We are going to establish such resorts at other provincial levels too. Even retired disables are taken care at Army cost. Provision of suitable housing facilities to both disables and family members of fallen war heroes as well as different social security and insurance schemes are among a few such measures that have been adopted.
With the opening of the state of the art new Military Hospital in March 2013, the second largest hospital in Sri Lanka for all service personnel, we make another milestone. This will have all the facilities and this was a long-felt requirement for military personnel. We have even done successful kidney transplants through better management of health care and our standards are high. We have been able to reduce the patient admission by 25% and both injured officers and other ranks were referred for overseas medical treatment through HE the President’s patronage. We have time to concentrate on quality and not the quantity like before.
Lots of projects with ‘Api wenuwen api’ and Seva Vanitha are sorting out many housing problems of soldiers. We will have our own insurance scheme and it will be introduced very soon.
We are making studies projecting the year 2022 and psc officers are doing these studies. How the soldier should be equipped and what kind of armour, etc should remain must be closely evaluated to take the Army as a forward-looking organization. There is a board doing these studies at present. First, it will project how the Army should be in two years, next in five years and then in the year 2022. As the starting point, 10 English instructors from India would arrive very soon, giving priority to the training sector. They all will help improve English standards in the Army.
In December, 45 members of our Special Forces are going to India for a joint bilateral exercise with them. Professionalism has to be improved all the time since there are no more gallantry medals to be awarded in the future. Discipline, customs and traditions are equally important to you as officers, the Commander concluded.
A few officers among the gathering received clarifications and answers to their queries from the visiting Commander of the Army on the same occasion.
Here is the text of the DSCSC Commandant, Major General J.C Rambukpotha’s introductory remarks during his welcome speech;
Has anyone in this audience experienced the fate of death? I mean the moment where your spirit moves away from you.
Gentlemen, we are extremely privileged and honoured to have with us a vibrant personality who falls into that category and has now reached the pinnacle of a victorious Army.
During his military career he even had the experience of his soul departing through the dark tunnel of death, but returned to his body after several days to which, we are fortunate today as we have a Commander of such calibre leading more than 200,000 troops.
And he is Gentlemen, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya who owns a few crucial pages of the history of the Sri Lanka Army.
Sir, on behalf of the faculty, staff and student officers of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, I wish to extend a very warm welcome and we all are inspired by your gracious presence.
Gentlemen, he is a man of great character and wonderful temperament who enjoys a splendid reputation as a leader with sterling human qualities.
As a brilliant product of the most prestigious Royal College - Colombo, young Jagath Jayasuriya brought fame to his alma mater in the fields of sports and athletics.
His extra - ordinary talent in boxing enabled him to dominate the boxing arena for several years and become the best boxer at the most coveted “Stubbs Shield Meet”
in 1977.
Even today, after 3½ decades his reputation as an international Referee and a Judge is remarkably high.
On 17 July 1978, his future career took roots when he was enlisted to the Regular force of the Sri Lanka Army, and was groomed to be commissioned at our very own Sri Lanka Military Academy.
His outstanding performance as an officer cadet made him the first in the order of merit and was commissioned to the glamourous 1st Recce Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, which he later commanded.
Gentlemen, and since then, Gen Jayasuriya has gone through each and every echelon of the Defence Structure in most vital institutions and headquarters.
As a profound military think tank, he has held numerous staff appointments.
He has been a Staff Officer at the Regimental level, then at Brigade level both on classic and infantry role, then 3 x stints at Army Headquarters - firstly, handling personal administration, then MS matters and finally as the Director Operations.
Further, he has served at the Joint Operational Headquarters and also at the Ministry of Defence as the MLO.
Gentlemen, Gen Jayasuriya has hundreds of students island wide - because he held two vital appointments at the premier training institution in the Army, the Sri Lanka Military Academy, firstly as the CI and then as the Commandant.
During his tenure as the Commandant he re-structured the Course Curriculum endeavoring to promote the image of the Academy and there by drawing the attention of the youngsters to join the Army, at a time, when the recruitment was at a very low ebb, and today, he is rightly called a “maker of leaders”.
During his illustrious career, apart from all the local courses that he followed, he underwent his basic professional and mandatory courses in India and Pakistan.
Continuing his outstanding performances he mesmerized all Cavalrymen in Nowshera Cantt by topping the most challenging YOs course.
So he made history even in Pakistan.
Gentlemen, He is the only Sri Lankan officer who has achieved that rare feat.
Thereafter, Gen Jayasuriya made vigorous pursuit of higher military education.
He is a proud graduate of the Defence Services Staff College - Wellington, Naval Post Graduate School - California and the National Defence University - China.
He also holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Madras.
And all the academic gradings obtained by him speak volumes of his brilliance.
Apart from all that he possesses tremendous experience in command appointments as well.
He had the rare privilege of Commanding the oldest regiment of the Armoured Corps.
Then during two crucial periods he commanded the one and only Armour Brigade
and there after 563 Infantry Brigade.
In the midst of worsening terrorist situation, he was made the GOC of 52 Division,
then the largest formation in JFN peninsula.
During the decisive ‘Operation Jayasikurui’, when he was the 563 Infantry Brigade Commander he received fatal blast injuries but survived to give leadership to humanitarian operations conducted in the Wanni theatre later on.
During humanitarian operations he functioned as the Commander, of the Security Forces Wanni.
Those days, Security Forces Wanni was considered as the largest formation, of the Sri Lanka Army extending from the Western coast to the Eastern coast, going over 7 districts with a frontage of a massive 145 Km.
And this man Gentlemen, had all the patience, diligence and sheer determination to control all that 17063 Sq Km.
And it is 26% of our land mass.
Approximately 60 days after the termination of the Humanitarian Operations, with all the attributes that I stated before including distinguished honours and awards, knowledge, qualifications, experience and widespread recognition in his profession on 15 July 2009 the Security Forces Commander Wanni - was made the Commander of our victorious Army.
And under his leadership Sri Lanka Army has gone miles ahead in all professional areas including administration, training, ceremonials, sports and welfare.
Gentlemen, even the President and the bureaucracy of our country have admired the extensive welfare projects launched by this Commander of course on behalf of the families of fallen heroes, the disabled and the serving soldiers.
Amongst those 2 x Abhimansala Wellness Resorts in Anuradhapura and Kamburupitiya are the major attractions.
Further, his vision of conducting an International Defence Seminar for 2 x successive years, and contribution to all important 5R process, and also ‘Nation Building’ have become very widely spoken subjects today.
Gentlemen, in recognition of his devotion to duty, commitment and also meritorious and exemplary conduct he has been awarded with ‘Vishisthta Seva Vibushanaya’ and ‘Uththama Seva Padakkama’.
Sir, I don’t want to take your time anymore.
I consider it my great privilege to have done the honours for you today.
Gentlemen, the man you have been waiting to hear - our Commander of the Army,
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya!
Upon his arrival at this seat of military learning that promotes the professional knowledge and understanding both in command and on the staff, was warmly received by Major General J.C Rambukpotha, Commandant, DSCSC. A Guard Turnout at the entrance to the premises saluted him in conformity with military formalities.
The day’s guest contributor, hailing the efforts of the DSCSC to this date, devoted his time to reminiscence how the Army transformed itself from a war-fighting one to that of a peace time Army within a span of three and half years, fortunately without undergoing any single instance of post-conflict trauma episode as far as Army men are concerned and simultaneously spell out how the Army would shine in the future.
Elaborating on the structural changes that have been introduced to the organization in the past few years upon his assumption of duties, the Commander pointed out how new Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQs), new Directorates, new formations and re-designations were raised and suppressing of certain units took place as necessary while linking the Army Headquarters by now directly to all SFHQs, 14 Division Headquarters and all Regimental Centres for better integration through local area networks and emails. This integration has led to paperless correspondence, live meetings, audio and video conferencing, online file transferring and sharing inside the organization, he said.
Commenting on career employment prospects for middle rank officers, the Commander said that the previous stream-based system has now been annulled and all officers are employed under arms / services and log professionals. Your qualifications are based now on merits and professional attainments. So are the appointments for you in the future, he added.
In the next 3 years, priority will be given to the development of training after the proper development of the infrastructure in the past three years was completed. The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) which will be an indispensable wing for any professional Army, has now been established and all top level strategy making being done. On the same lines, the Officers Career Development Centre (OCDC) at Buttala and several training wings have been raised simultaneously doubling intakes of trainees, to be on par with the Army strength, now around 200,000. In the same vein, the newly raised Education Corps of the Army will enlist 100 English instructors to the Army, purely for language training next year, he added.
A lot of foreign Armies have shown interest in sharing our experiences and training. We are getting more and more foreign military officers for training and the Exercise Cormorant Strike as a multinational exercise was attended by 5 countries, Pakistan, India, Maldives, China & Bangladesh. We have now in Army offering four courses to foreign military trainees.
The Defence Seminar, now a major annual event in the Army calendar as a routine feature has been successfully staged with the participation of 44 countries early this year, and preparations for the next year’s are already in progress, he specified.
My personal association with Chinese authorities when I was following the ndu course enabled me to get a new state of the auditorium to the Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy with a 1000 seating capacity and it will be done very soon as a grant with its construction of the headquarters building. They will start construction very soon and I feel very proud of this, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.
Training opportunities offered by foreign Armies to the Sri Lanka Army, he said, are on the increase. China has increased it tremendously and we are benefited.
At the same time, career progression with functional appointments regularized has upgraded and newly created ranks of Majors General, Brigadiers, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, thus adding more prospects to the promotion structure. We have got the approval of the treasury to make it a functional Army so that we can promote officers and there won’t be any stagnation as in the past, the Commander said.
To ensure smooth administration after fighting of 30 long years, routine inspection of all regiments and SFHQs have been now completed, updating and inspection on training schools is still underway. We have to ensure proper records as regards ammunition stocks, all documents and records are maintained. In the future Army, even if a single round is lost, you are accountable because it is now peace-time Army and no room should be left for things like that. The peacetime Army is difficult and challenging, and wartime Army was more bent on speedy winning. That is the difference. The management in peacetime is very difficult unlike in the war-time, the Commander underlined.
We are now fully accounting each and everything in field formations and maintaining records. All directors go there and find solutions to those lapses and find remedies. It is very important all accounts are accurately maintained and the Chief of Staff has been directed to do this, he said.
Our participation in Haiti is getting less as normalcy is returned to that country. He also mentioned how Army troops both arms and services joined UN peace keeping operations in Haiti, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan, Western Sahara and New York. He told the gathering that 28 military officers of the Army are serving in those countries as military observers and staff officers. Once you qualify in psc, you are able to apply for staff appointments.
Army is spearheading humanitarian demining work and in a year’s time, we will be able to finish the project. We have over 1000 de-miners and over 20 machines. Our other involvement is nation building. We have acquired lots of land for agriculture, and are purchasing paddy for own consumption and helping the farmers to strike a balance in pricing. Army troops are now taking more and more to development roles in the country. Involvement in Agriculture Projects, Paddy Purchasing and Milling, Major Earth Work Projects, Major Construction Projects etc are a few such ventures. We are handling machines donated by China and doing that for other state departments at their request. Re-branding of Army hotels as “Laya Resorts” is another venture to be in line with the prospering tourist industry, he said.
Foreign participation in military ceremonies and the visits of the Chief of Army Staff, including HE Gen Lian Guanglie, Minister of National Defence, China, Gen Jaoquim Silva E Luna, Chief of Staff, Brazilian Army, Lt Gen A.K Singh, Comd, Southern Command, Indian Army and Lt Gen A.S Rana, Chairman HIT, Pakistan, are reflective of the goodwill and good relations that are sustained with the Sri Lanka Army.
Indian Chief of Army Staff is to review the passing out parade at the Sri Lanka Military Academy after his arrival on 19th instant here. It is the first time in history the Indian Army Chief is taking a salute from the Diyatalawa officers during a passing out parade, he pointed out.
Likewise, we reciprocated. Other countries also honoured Sri Lanka Army by inviting us to review the commissioning Parade of the Indian Military Academy Dehradun in December 2011 and be a state guest of the People’s Republic of China in June 2012. I attended these occasions as the Commander of the Army.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya towards the latter part of his speech, touched on the question of welfare and rehabilitation among members of the Army. Construction of wellness resorts like ‘Abhimansala’ for the dependent soldiers is a milestone. Recovery of those who were wounded in action was a better achievement as a result of these wellness resorts. We are going to establish such resorts at other provincial levels too. Even retired disables are taken care at Army cost. Provision of suitable housing facilities to both disables and family members of fallen war heroes as well as different social security and insurance schemes are among a few such measures that have been adopted.
With the opening of the state of the art new Military Hospital in March 2013, the second largest hospital in Sri Lanka for all service personnel, we make another milestone. This will have all the facilities and this was a long-felt requirement for military personnel. We have even done successful kidney transplants through better management of health care and our standards are high. We have been able to reduce the patient admission by 25% and both injured officers and other ranks were referred for overseas medical treatment through HE the President’s patronage. We have time to concentrate on quality and not the quantity like before.
Lots of projects with ‘Api wenuwen api’ and Seva Vanitha are sorting out many housing problems of soldiers. We will have our own insurance scheme and it will be introduced very soon.
We are making studies projecting the year 2022 and psc officers are doing these studies. How the soldier should be equipped and what kind of armour, etc should remain must be closely evaluated to take the Army as a forward-looking organization. There is a board doing these studies at present. First, it will project how the Army should be in two years, next in five years and then in the year 2022. As the starting point, 10 English instructors from India would arrive very soon, giving priority to the training sector. They all will help improve English standards in the Army.
In December, 45 members of our Special Forces are going to India for a joint bilateral exercise with them. Professionalism has to be improved all the time since there are no more gallantry medals to be awarded in the future. Discipline, customs and traditions are equally important to you as officers, the Commander concluded.
A few officers among the gathering received clarifications and answers to their queries from the visiting Commander of the Army on the same occasion.
Here is the text of the DSCSC Commandant, Major General J.C Rambukpotha’s introductory remarks during his welcome speech;
Has anyone in this audience experienced the fate of death? I mean the moment where your spirit moves away from you.
Gentlemen, we are extremely privileged and honoured to have with us a vibrant personality who falls into that category and has now reached the pinnacle of a victorious Army.
During his military career he even had the experience of his soul departing through the dark tunnel of death, but returned to his body after several days to which, we are fortunate today as we have a Commander of such calibre leading more than 200,000 troops.
And he is Gentlemen, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya who owns a few crucial pages of the history of the Sri Lanka Army.
Sir, on behalf of the faculty, staff and student officers of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, I wish to extend a very warm welcome and we all are inspired by your gracious presence.
Gentlemen, he is a man of great character and wonderful temperament who enjoys a splendid reputation as a leader with sterling human qualities.
As a brilliant product of the most prestigious Royal College - Colombo, young Jagath Jayasuriya brought fame to his alma mater in the fields of sports and athletics.
His extra - ordinary talent in boxing enabled him to dominate the boxing arena for several years and become the best boxer at the most coveted “Stubbs Shield Meet”
in 1977.
Even today, after 3½ decades his reputation as an international Referee and a Judge is remarkably high.
On 17 July 1978, his future career took roots when he was enlisted to the Regular force of the Sri Lanka Army, and was groomed to be commissioned at our very own Sri Lanka Military Academy.
His outstanding performance as an officer cadet made him the first in the order of merit and was commissioned to the glamourous 1st Recce Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, which he later commanded.
Gentlemen, and since then, Gen Jayasuriya has gone through each and every echelon of the Defence Structure in most vital institutions and headquarters.
As a profound military think tank, he has held numerous staff appointments.
He has been a Staff Officer at the Regimental level, then at Brigade level both on classic and infantry role, then 3 x stints at Army Headquarters - firstly, handling personal administration, then MS matters and finally as the Director Operations.
Further, he has served at the Joint Operational Headquarters and also at the Ministry of Defence as the MLO.
Gentlemen, Gen Jayasuriya has hundreds of students island wide - because he held two vital appointments at the premier training institution in the Army, the Sri Lanka Military Academy, firstly as the CI and then as the Commandant.
During his tenure as the Commandant he re-structured the Course Curriculum endeavoring to promote the image of the Academy and there by drawing the attention of the youngsters to join the Army, at a time, when the recruitment was at a very low ebb, and today, he is rightly called a “maker of leaders”.
During his illustrious career, apart from all the local courses that he followed, he underwent his basic professional and mandatory courses in India and Pakistan.
Continuing his outstanding performances he mesmerized all Cavalrymen in Nowshera Cantt by topping the most challenging YOs course.
So he made history even in Pakistan.
Gentlemen, He is the only Sri Lankan officer who has achieved that rare feat.
Thereafter, Gen Jayasuriya made vigorous pursuit of higher military education.
He is a proud graduate of the Defence Services Staff College - Wellington, Naval Post Graduate School - California and the National Defence University - China.
He also holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Madras.
And all the academic gradings obtained by him speak volumes of his brilliance.
Apart from all that he possesses tremendous experience in command appointments as well.
He had the rare privilege of Commanding the oldest regiment of the Armoured Corps.
Then during two crucial periods he commanded the one and only Armour Brigade
and there after 563 Infantry Brigade.
In the midst of worsening terrorist situation, he was made the GOC of 52 Division,
then the largest formation in JFN peninsula.
During the decisive ‘Operation Jayasikurui’, when he was the 563 Infantry Brigade Commander he received fatal blast injuries but survived to give leadership to humanitarian operations conducted in the Wanni theatre later on.
During humanitarian operations he functioned as the Commander, of the Security Forces Wanni.
Those days, Security Forces Wanni was considered as the largest formation, of the Sri Lanka Army extending from the Western coast to the Eastern coast, going over 7 districts with a frontage of a massive 145 Km.
And this man Gentlemen, had all the patience, diligence and sheer determination to control all that 17063 Sq Km.
And it is 26% of our land mass.
Approximately 60 days after the termination of the Humanitarian Operations, with all the attributes that I stated before including distinguished honours and awards, knowledge, qualifications, experience and widespread recognition in his profession on 15 July 2009 the Security Forces Commander Wanni - was made the Commander of our victorious Army.
And under his leadership Sri Lanka Army has gone miles ahead in all professional areas including administration, training, ceremonials, sports and welfare.
Gentlemen, even the President and the bureaucracy of our country have admired the extensive welfare projects launched by this Commander of course on behalf of the families of fallen heroes, the disabled and the serving soldiers.
Amongst those 2 x Abhimansala Wellness Resorts in Anuradhapura and Kamburupitiya are the major attractions.
Further, his vision of conducting an International Defence Seminar for 2 x successive years, and contribution to all important 5R process, and also ‘Nation Building’ have become very widely spoken subjects today.
Gentlemen, in recognition of his devotion to duty, commitment and also meritorious and exemplary conduct he has been awarded with ‘Vishisthta Seva Vibushanaya’ and ‘Uththama Seva Padakkama’.
Sir, I don’t want to take your time anymore.
I consider it my great privilege to have done the honours for you today.
Gentlemen, the man you have been waiting to hear - our Commander of the Army,
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya!
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