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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

01st February 2021 07:00:21 Hours

Contraband Apprehended Exceeds Rs 215 million: 54 Division Troops Commended

A few hundreds of Officers and Other Ranks serving the 54 Division HQ recently received Certificates of Commendation from their General Officer Commanding (GOC) for their sustained and unfailing duty roles in the detection of record hauls of contraband, inclusive of heroin, drugs, narcotics, turmeric, cannabis, etc and arrest of illegal poachers, tree-fellers in forest reserves, sand mining elements, land encroachers, et al during a special parade, held at the 54 Division HQ in Mannar.

Mannar district with its closer geographical proximity to South India has since of recent times become a conductive hub for those illegal smugglers due to easy accessibility to interior jungles around Mannar and other economic centres that connect with other districts. On specific instructions given by the Commander of the Army to the troops in line with HE the President's vision to curb those illegal transactions hand in hand with the Police, troops of all Brigades under the 54 Division under the close supervision of Major General Indrajith Bandara, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 54 Division and respective Commanders early last year (2020) implemented a comprehensive security network to nab those elements in liasion with Policemen and in consultation with Major General Hemantha Bandara, Commander, Security Forces-Wanni.

The effective security network that came into effect accordingly during the year successfully netted contraband to the value of approximately Rs 215 million and scores of suspects with vehicles who were afterwards produced to the Police for necessary onward arrangements. 37 Officers and 336 Other Rankers of the 54 Division HQ, 541, 542 and 543 Brigades during this appreciative gesture received certificates of commendation and appreciation on the occasion after inviting all of them to the 54 Division HQ where the GOC, 54 Division praised them and awarded those laurels as the Chief Guest. According to the Police, after such alert security network of the 54 Division came into effect, there has been a marked drop in such illegal activities in the most recent months, compared to the year 2019.Running sports | NIKE AIR HUARACHE