19th May 2016 05:42:19 Hours
Sri Lanka Army on Wednesday (18) had the distinguished honour of welcoming the Former Commander of the Army, Field Marshal G.S.C Fonseka RWP RSP VSV USP rcds psc who was making his first formal visit after his elevation to the rank of Field Marshal during a ceremony at the Army Headquarters, Colombo 03.
A guard turn out at the MoD ground upon his arrival greeted him seconds after Lieutenant Colonel Anil Somaweera, Commanding Officer at the Headquarter Battalion welcomed him. Thereafter, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment troops of his own Regiment saluted the day’s Chief Guest at a special Guard of Honour after Major General Boniface Perera, Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, together with Major General Nandana Udawatte, Adjutant General extended a warm welcome before the visiting Field Marshal was conducted to the special dais to receive the salute. In keeping with military traditions, the Field Marshal afterwards reviewed the parade.
After the formal welcome ceremonies were over, he was formally received by the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva at the foyer to the Commander’s office.
At the same time, the Commander introduced his Principal Staff Officers to the visiting retired military chief as a courtesy.
Mrs Nayana De Silva, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit around the same time welcomed Mrs Anoma Fonseka, the spouse of the visiting former Commander and accompanied her to the Commander’s office.
The day’s visit which also coincides with the victory over LTTE terrorism reached its climax as the Commander of the Army invited the visiting Field Marshal to unveil his portrait in the hallowed chambers of the Commander’s Secretariat as a symbolic gesture of eternal memory in the presence of all Principal Staff Officers.
Exchange of pleasantries and recollection of treasured memories finally brought the brief ceremony to an end.
Prior to his departure, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army presented a special memento to the visiting Field Marshal who is widely respected as a war veteran in our contemporary times. Field Marshal Fonseka also left his complimentary remarks in the VIP book at the Commander’s office before he left the premises. Mrs Nayana De Silva before Mrs Anoma Fonseka’s exit presented a memento to her as a gesture of goodwill.
Major General Milinda Peiris, Chief of Staff, Major General Sumedha Perera, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Channa Goonetilleke, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General Janaka Walgama, Military Secretary, Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General Health Services, Major General Renuka Udawatte, Director General Financial Management, Major General B.A Perera, Director General General Staff and a few other senior officers were present at the occasion.
