Commander in His New Year Day Address Reminds Army's Commitment for the Country

“Everyone in the Army should remember that our prime responsibility is to safeguard the territorial integrity and the unitary status of the country while extending our best cooperation towards the nation-building, spearheaded by HE the President as our Commander-in-Chief. The Army should always be prepared to face any challenge when it matters to the defence of the country,” so remarked Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army during his first working day address in the New Year 2016 at the Colombo Army Headquarters where a customary ceremony took place in the presence of a representative gathering of officers and other rankers.      

He further reminded that all should bear in mind that discipline as the most vital and central component in the Army should always be given the first priority since it is what the Army is all about and meant for, the Commander emphasized. “I expect everyone to work towards minimizing the number of lapses on the part of our discipline in the New Year. Ours is an organization based on discipline, nothing but the discipline,” he emphatically noted.   

Paying a tribute to all those working in the Army, the Commander reminded them of the importance of fulfilling their duties to the best of their capabilities for the best interest of the public and the country at large, who are footing  the cost of our salaries.         

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, gracing the ceremony on Friday (1) morning as the Chief Guest, gave the pride of prominence to the country and hoisted the National Flag while Major General E.M.M Ambanpola, Deputy Chief of Staff, concurrently, raised the Army Flag to be in line with military formalities. National Anthem and the rhythmic Army Song ‘Sagarayen Wata - Me Mage Mau Rata’ sung together by all those who were present, reverberated as the next item on the agenda was solemn.

Observance of a two-minute silence honoured the memory of all those who made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the country as the clock struck 9.15 a.m.

The formal State Service Allegiance Pledge that reminds state officials’ unfailing duty to serve the public and the State under One country, One nation and One flag was then read out by Brigadier A.L.S.K Perera, Director, Personnel Administration as is the practice in all island-wide state institutions on the first working day of the New Year.

Next, the Commander of the Army rose to his feet to deliver his traditional New Year address which normally sets out the vision for the incoming New Year. (See the Commander’s New Year Message in Highlights)

As is the practice every year, the Commander ended the first segment of the New Year day’s programme with an interactive tea table of traditional sweet meats where all ranks present had the rare opportunity of sharing a couple of thoughts with the Commander and other senior officers.

Later on, the Commander, together with senior officers, visited the Narahenpita Military Hospital to meet a cross section of Army personnel under treatment. Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva gave away symbolic gift parcels to the hospital inmates and exchanged a couple of views with them after inquiring into their well-being.

Around the same time, a representative group of senior officers on behalf of the Commander of the Army meanwhile, paid visits to several military hospitals at peripheral level, including the Colombo National Hospital, Army Base Hospitals (Panagoda, Palaly, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Mannar, Minneriya, Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu, Diyatalawa) and all three Abimansala wellness resorts, Ragama Ranaviru Sevana, Mihindu Seth Medura, Rehabilitation Centres and other public hospitals where disable and ailing Army personnel are receiving medical treatment.  

These officers separately gave away gift parcels to the inmates and shared a few words with them offering seasonal compliments.

Meanwhile, island-wide Security Force Headquarters (SFHQ) and all formations as per directions of the Army Headquarters had their own respective New Year Day celebrations, headed by SFHQ Commanders and other senior officers where the State Service Allegiance Pledge was also read out.