Defence Delegates Represent the Combat Engineers Symposium – 2025

Major General K.P.A. Jayasekara (Retd) WWV RSP VSV USP ndc psc, Deputy Minister of Defence, together with Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, Commander of the Army, attended the Combat Engineers Symposium - 2025, held on 03 April 2025 at the Grand Maitland, Colombo 07.

The Deputy Minister of Defence graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The symposium was conducted under the theme 'Adapting for the Future: Strategic Approaches of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers, Blueprint for the Evolving Geostrategic Landscape.'

Upon arrival, the Chief Guest was welcomed by the Army Chief, along with Major General A.H.L.G. Amarapala RWP RSP ndc psc, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE).

The event commenced with the screening of a documentary video on the SLE, followed by a welcome address by the Colonel Commandant. The Chief Guest delivered the keynote speech, which was followed by the presentation of a memento and a group photograph with the dignitaries.

The first session, chaired by Brigadier F. Joseph USP, featured discussions conducted by Colonel M.D.J. Wickramaarachchi USP psc ptsc and Lieutenant Colonel P.A.D.S.W. Ponnamperuma USP psc on 'The Future Strategic Environment and the Restructuring Plan of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers.'

The second session was chaired by Brigadier W.S. Gamage RSP USP psc ndc. Lieutenant Colonel G.G.C.L. Kulathunga RSP psc and Lieutenant Colonel W.M.M.P. Wanigasooriya USP psc served as panelists and presented on 'The Role of SLE in National Sustainability and Nation-Building in Support of the Clean Sri Lanka National Project.'

The final session, chaired by Brigadier T.D.P. Siriwardene psc, featured discussions with Colonel J.A.C.S. Jagoda psc and Lieutenant Colonel G.A.D. Alwis RSP psc as panelists, focusing on 'The Proficiency and Competency of the Corps of SLE in Future United Nations Peace Support Operations and Overseas Deployments for HADR Operations.'

The symposium concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants, followed by a vote of thanks. Senior Officers and Officers from Tri-Forces, civilians and other dignitaries participated in the symposium.