Glittering PoP at SLMA Gifts More Young Officers to Mother Lanka

The Sri Lanka Army's most prestigious seat of learning at Diyatalawa, the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) with a proven record of glory once again honoured the Mother Lanka on Saturday (17) by gifting 352 more full-fledged Cadet Officers to the Sri Lanka Army. These new officers are possessing essential knowledge, skills and attitudes as lower tactical level leaders with a sound foundation for a life time of improvement to take up operational and strategic level responsibilities in the future.

Hon President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces added dignity and prominence to the Passing out Parade (PoP) as the Chief Guest at the invitation of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage where a total of 352 Cadet Officers from Intakes 89, 91, 91 B, SC 19, Lady Intake 19, 61 (V) , 61 (A) and Lady Intake 18 (V) including three foreign Cadet Officers of the Maldives and Zambia during their POP received the Swords, symbolic of their Presidential Commission from the day’s Chief Guest, Hon President.

Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, State Minister of Defence, Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Chief of Staff of the President and Senior Advisor to the President, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Past Commanders, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, and the host, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army and a distinguished gathering, including Defence Advisors/Attachés, Tri-Service Senior Officers, the spouse of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Mrs Chithrani Gunaratne, the spouse of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Sujeewa Nelson, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs Janaki Liyanage, Spouses of Senior Officers, Parents and next of kin of Cadet Officers witnessed the SLMA's 97th PoP.

Commencing the day's proceedings, a procession led by a cavalcade brought the Chief Guest to the SLMA Parade Square. In accordance with military traditions, Sri Lanka Military Academy troops at first presented a Guard Turnout to the day’s Chief Guest, Hon President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A few seconds later, the day's Chief Guest, together with his host, not forgetful of invaluable past sacrifices of fallen War Heroes laid a floral wreath at the SLMA war memorial, situated overlooking the parade ground as the first segment in the day’s agenda and honoured the memory of fallen service patriots in a solemn minute of silence as all spectators stood up in reverence. The SLMA parade ground, well poised in a setting of a very magnificent spectacle of national importance with fluttering multi-coloured military flags in the background to suit the day’s nationally-significant event, then turned to be a hive of activity as the Parade Commander, Major R.A.A Ranawaka of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry sought the formal permission from the day’s Chief Guest, on the special dais, to continue the rest of the proceedings.

After the formal review of the parade, the Chief Guest began awarding the most precious President’s Commissioning Swords to graduating Officer Cadets, symbolizing their much-admired authority before receiving the salute from the new officers. After a while, the day’s Chief Guest presented special awards to the Best Achievers in separate Intakes as the gathering lent a roar of applause.

In his brief speech to the graduates, Hon President told them that they should always protect their subordinates and soldiers under them and safeguard the Republic of Sri Lanka and her Constitution all the time as they turn a new lease of life today after training.

Adding excitement to the day's distinguished guests, the newly-commissioned Officers climbed the steps of the famous 'Makara Thorana' (arch) and proudly marched off for the final time from the same parade ground where they once received training to march and salute in the company of the mounted SLMA Adjutant. Backup squads in the parade ground followed suit afterwards.

In a separate assembly at the Sino-Lanka Friendship Auditorium, along with the SLMA Commandant Major General W.W.H.R.R.V.M.N.D.K.B Niyangoda RWP RSP USP ndu psc soon after the commissioning parade, the day’s distinguished guests adorned the shoulders of brave young Officers with the insignia of the President’s Commission as one more customary feature in the day’s spectacle (Pipping Ceremony). It was a moment of rejoice, filled with eternal memories for those beloved ones of the new graduates who had hitherto missed them so much during their training period.

Here follows the list of Award Winners:

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 91

First-In-Order of Merit - Officer Cadet A.G.C.G Madushantha

The Sword of Honour - Battalion Under Officer M.R Sithara

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 91 B

First-In-Order of Merit - Company Under Officer U.D.N.N Rodrigo

The Sword of Honour - Company Under Officer U.D.N.N Rodrigo

Cane of Honour - Platoon Under Officer M Ahmed

Regular Officer Cadet Intake SC 19

First-In-Order of Merit - Platoon Under Officer K.K.S.S Dewmina

Lady Officer Cadet Intake 19

First-In-Order of Merit - Platoon Under Officer K.M.D.B Bandara

The Sword of Honour - Platoon Under Officer K.M.D.B Bandara

Volunteer Officer Cadet Intake 61 (V)

First-In-Order of Merit - Platoon Under Officer T.K.D Bandara

The Sword of Honour - Platoon Under Officer T.K.D Bandara

Volunteer Officer Cadet Intake 61 A (V)

First-In-Order of Merit - Cadet Sergeant R.M Janaka

The Sword of Honour - Cadet Sergeant R.M Janaka

Volunteer Lady Officer Cadet Intake 18 (V)

First-In-Order of Merit - Platoon Under Officer E.A.A.D Edirisinghe