A record near 5000 gathering of Army personnel belonging to all ranks who are serving the Colombo Army Headquarters on Friday (19) listened to the Commander of the Army after gathering at the Sri Lanka Air Force grounds.
The milestone event since it was the first time a huge gathering of the Army Headquarters sat together after the victory over terrorism in 2009, saw the Commander spelling out the series of measures that had been adopted in the Army in the past few years in the field of training, welfare, nation-building, professionalism, future planning and other prospects.
“The Army and its strength has increased in a significant manner in the past three decades and the organization has proved itself to be an integral and indispensable force to be reckoned with. It has performed arduous tasks which is impossible for others and won commendation from all quarters.”
Never had the Army received such a quantum of allocations for training of Army personnel in many spheres of professionalism. The Army using those resources has already set in programmes to raise educational levels of the officers and soldiers alike. With those programmes now underway, you are going to be a full-fledged soldier in the future gaining high standards of professional qualifications, the Commander said.
"The prime responsibility of the Army is the national security and several attempts to destabilize the country, had been successfully thwarted by the Army. Various international elements are still at this attempt but the initiatives of the President and the Secretary Defence have made them ineffective, inheriting a strong and stable country to all of us, compared to unstable security situations in the region elsewhere."
He reminded them of the significance of national security, discipline and explained to them the series of welfare measures that had been hitherto effected by the Army for the best interests of the troops, thanks to the support of the President and the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development.
Referring to welfare projects, the Commander pointed out that housing, soldiers' uniforms and other requirements, have already been given priority, and thanks to the efforts of the Secretary Defence, many Security Force Headquarters as well as other formations were provided with pre-fabricated buildings in the recent past, as an alternative solution to the shortage of spacious barracks.
"Large allocations have been earmarked to give the best training opportunities to the troops both here and abroad. You should take interest in this and make use of these openings for training. Another area of importance is the steps that were taken to improve athletics and sports. To produce sportsmen and women of national and international standards as in the past, the Army has prioritized the promotion of sports and athletics as an essential component," Lieutenant General Ratnayake pointed out.
With the blessings of the President and the Secretary Defence, the Army successfully implemented the 'Suwasahana' loan scheme, for example. It has already given out Rs 11.2 billion worth loans by now. Similarly, a new an effective insurance scheme is in place and all measures have been implemented to promote the welfare of those retiring from the Army by establishing a 'Job bank' for the retirees. Steps are being taken to offer a payment of Rs 1 million to the Army personnel going on retirement and they are also offered a professional training, enabling them to engage in productive projects upon retirement, the Commander said.
He also added that the Army's invaluable commitment and dedication has resulted in the construction of more than 14,000 houses for the civilians living in the north of the country. This was in addition to the erection or renovation of a large number of schools, Kovils, Buddhist Temples, Pre Schools, Community Halls, Play Grounds, etc. All these were made possible because of your untiring work and dedication. The Army-built villages for re-settlers in the Wanni, like Nandimithragama is a case in point, the Commander told the gathering.
“Discipline is the mirror of the soldier and everyone should keep in mind that absence of discipline negatively affects the entire organization. As disciplined soldiers we all must show our conduct through word and action. In other words, your conduct is the most important element in the organization,” the Commander underlined.
He also noted that unlike in the past, the soldier receives his ‘free issue’ set of essentials not in parts but the entire thing as a package, is now offered wherever you serve, the Commander said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake touched on a series of points similar to those above in another address he made to the troops of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West) at the SFHQ-West office premises in Panagoda.
A gathering of more than 5000 Army personnel serving the SFHQ-West were present at the occasion.
The milestone event since it was the first time a huge gathering of the Army Headquarters sat together after the victory over terrorism in 2009, saw the Commander spelling out the series of measures that had been adopted in the Army in the past few years in the field of training, welfare, nation-building, professionalism, future planning and other prospects.
“The Army and its strength has increased in a significant manner in the past three decades and the organization has proved itself to be an integral and indispensable force to be reckoned with. It has performed arduous tasks which is impossible for others and won commendation from all quarters.”
Never had the Army received such a quantum of allocations for training of Army personnel in many spheres of professionalism. The Army using those resources has already set in programmes to raise educational levels of the officers and soldiers alike. With those programmes now underway, you are going to be a full-fledged soldier in the future gaining high standards of professional qualifications, the Commander said.
"The prime responsibility of the Army is the national security and several attempts to destabilize the country, had been successfully thwarted by the Army. Various international elements are still at this attempt but the initiatives of the President and the Secretary Defence have made them ineffective, inheriting a strong and stable country to all of us, compared to unstable security situations in the region elsewhere."
He reminded them of the significance of national security, discipline and explained to them the series of welfare measures that had been hitherto effected by the Army for the best interests of the troops, thanks to the support of the President and the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development.
Referring to welfare projects, the Commander pointed out that housing, soldiers' uniforms and other requirements, have already been given priority, and thanks to the efforts of the Secretary Defence, many Security Force Headquarters as well as other formations were provided with pre-fabricated buildings in the recent past, as an alternative solution to the shortage of spacious barracks.
"Large allocations have been earmarked to give the best training opportunities to the troops both here and abroad. You should take interest in this and make use of these openings for training. Another area of importance is the steps that were taken to improve athletics and sports. To produce sportsmen and women of national and international standards as in the past, the Army has prioritized the promotion of sports and athletics as an essential component," Lieutenant General Ratnayake pointed out.
With the blessings of the President and the Secretary Defence, the Army successfully implemented the 'Suwasahana' loan scheme, for example. It has already given out Rs 11.2 billion worth loans by now. Similarly, a new an effective insurance scheme is in place and all measures have been implemented to promote the welfare of those retiring from the Army by establishing a 'Job bank' for the retirees. Steps are being taken to offer a payment of Rs 1 million to the Army personnel going on retirement and they are also offered a professional training, enabling them to engage in productive projects upon retirement, the Commander said.
He also added that the Army's invaluable commitment and dedication has resulted in the construction of more than 14,000 houses for the civilians living in the north of the country. This was in addition to the erection or renovation of a large number of schools, Kovils, Buddhist Temples, Pre Schools, Community Halls, Play Grounds, etc. All these were made possible because of your untiring work and dedication. The Army-built villages for re-settlers in the Wanni, like Nandimithragama is a case in point, the Commander told the gathering.
“Discipline is the mirror of the soldier and everyone should keep in mind that absence of discipline negatively affects the entire organization. As disciplined soldiers we all must show our conduct through word and action. In other words, your conduct is the most important element in the organization,” the Commander underlined.
He also noted that unlike in the past, the soldier receives his ‘free issue’ set of essentials not in parts but the entire thing as a package, is now offered wherever you serve, the Commander said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake touched on a series of points similar to those above in another address he made to the troops of the Security Force Headquarters - West (SFHQ-West) at the SFHQ-West office premises in Panagoda.
A gathering of more than 5000 Army personnel serving the SFHQ-West were present at the occasion.
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