22nd February 2022 07:44:32 Hours
The maiden copy, ‘Skill to Battle’, the latest (2020-2021) compendium of the Corps of the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SLEME) that documented the SLEME’s varieties of unmatched new vehicles, unique innovations, creative electrical, mechanical, electronic, optical and bio-medical equipment, etc was presented today (21) to the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva by Major General, Indu Samarakoon, Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SLEME) and Army Logistic Commander at the Army HQ.
The pictorial with documented literature, related to one year's progress of the SLEME explains how the SLEME makes unparalleled and impressive contribution to the operational fitness of the mammoth organization and how its under command wings and units function intact in order to produce best results for the operational fleet of the Army. Major General Samarakoon briefed the Army Chief on the cost-effectiveness, quality and durability of those products including the recently-manufactured state-of-the-art Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle (MRAPV), ‘Unicob’ vehicle which became an attraction in the recent Independence Day parade.
The new sixcylinder Diesel Unicob-MRAP Vehicle that stands a monumental tribute to creative and manufacturing prowess of mechanically and technically qualified SLEME workforce has been produced by using discarded engines, scrap and chassis which were earlier used by the Army, and the manufacture of this Unicob-MRAP Vehicle would inevitably enhance armoured capabilities of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps under the light armoured vehicle category. The whole cost of its production stood at Rs 10 million, relatively a very low cost, compared to importation.
To their credit, the SLEME troops who have made a significant contribution by manufacturing armoured vehicles, Unibuffels (the improvised version of Unicorn) in recent years for the Army's overseas UN missions have already despatched more than 65 such vehicles to Mali where Army troops are deployed, thus saving foreign exchange for the country. The SLEME as per instructions of the Army Chief expects to produce more of those new Unicob-MRAP Vehicles, designed for overseas assignments as it did in the past, too.
The occasion was attended by Major General Deepal Hathurusinghe, Director, Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and a senior Officer of the SLEME.
