Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP), Sri Lanka Army, in its life span of 61 years, made its debut for the first time Wednesday (1) evening when a section of officers and all ranks (both serving and retired), was awarded regimental colours, amidst all the pomp and ceremony during the ‘Military Police Colours Night – 2010’ at the BMICH.
Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya as Chief Guest, accompanied by Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch, graced the glittering event, replete with military traditions and entertainment. The Chief Guest on arrival at the BMICH was welcomed by Major General E.K.J.K. Wijayasiri, Colonel Commandant of SLCMP Regiment and conducted to the main hall in the company of SLCMP senior officers, accompanied by elegantly dressed lady bagpipers of the SLCMP.
Several scintillating and eye-catching spectacles of cultural, musical and historic themes, meticulously choreographed by famed veterans like Channa Wijewardena, Ravibandu Vidyapathi, T.M. Jayaratne and Senanayaka Weraliyadda, held audiences spellbound as the day’s agenda unfolded one by one while awarding Colours and certificates to 51 SLCMP officers and other ranks (both serving and retired) for their excellence in various sports at different levels, i.e. Army, Defence Services, National and International, representing the country.
The two-minute silence, as is the practice in all Army ceremonies, revered the memories of fallen War Heroes while fighting for defence of the country. The silence signalled the onset of the day’s proceedings. Paying due respect to the Regiment, the SLCMP regimental song reverberated around the hall, next. It left the floor for Major General E.K.J.K. Wijayasiri, Colonel Commandant of SLCMP Regiment to deliver his welcome speech.
As the stage was set for the honours, Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Commander and the Deputy Chief of Staff were respectively invited to the stage for presentation of Colours to the recipients who excelled at Army, Defence Services and National levels.
The grand presentation of Colours reached its apex as Chief Guest on the occasion entered the stage after he was cordially and respectfully invited to make the final segment of the presentation of Colours to those SLCMP personnel who have excelled exceptionally well in sports at international level, representing the country in the past few years.
On the sidelines of the main programme of the day, one more worthy cause of concern to disable War Heroes, took place afterwards, adding a sense of solemn dignity and solace. Following initiatives taken by Major General E.K.J.K. Wijayasiri, Colonel Commandant of SLCMP Regiment and all officers and other ranks, the heartening gesture was made possible. As part of their moral obligation, they all sweated and collected a sum of Rs. 1 million towards the construction cost of the ongoing ‘Abimansala’ project at Anuradhapura, designed for permanently dependent disable War Heroes. The cheque to that value was symbolically handed over to the Commander, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya by Major General Wijayasiri as applause roared. On the same occasion, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya in turn offered the donation to Mrs Jayasuriya, President, Seva Vanitha Army Branch which is instrumental in implementing the project.
Colours were awarded for exceptional performances in athletics, motor cross, motor racing, boxing, basket ball, cricket, rugby, kabadi, karate, hockey, soccer, volley ball, body building, taekwondo and weight lifting. Those recipients, though distinguished themselves in sports and earned a well-deserved reputation, could not reach their full potential in the recent past as a result of their commitments during the war for peace.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya in a special congratulatory message, issued in connection with the SLCMP’s first ever ‘Military Police Colours Night – 2010’ admitted that the Military Police played a vital role in the past humanitarian operations and contributed to the smooth functioning of the Army. As Napoleon Bonaparte once said, ‘If you want to have a good Army, there should be a good Police force within it’ in order to maintain discipline in the entire Army. Military Police sportsmen and sportswomen contributed well towards the achievements in different sports while enhancing the image of the entire Army, the Commander has stated in his message to the SLCMP souvenir.
SLCMP Regimental Centre Commandant Colonel G.K.S. Fonseka raised the vote of thanks before the Brass Band showed their skills renting the air with patriotic melodies and finally the national anthem.
The history of Military Police in Sri Lanka traces its roots to the year 1949, in which the Ceylon Army was founded. The first Army commander of the Ceylon Army, having realized the significance of discipline, raised the wing, Ceylon Military Police Force with the motto "Example Decemuse" (By example shall we lead). At the beginning, there were only 10 Military Policemen who made up of the entire nucleus of the Military Police, which was then called the First Provost Company. It had been commanded by the officer commanding Major E.R.P. de Silva stationed at Echelon Square, Colombo.
Military Police Regimental Headquarters in 1975 moved to its present location at Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita. In 1999, 1, 2, 3 Sri Lanka Military Police units were rotated to Colombo, Anuradhapura and Giritale. As of today, the Regimental Headquarters is manned by 35 Officers and 943 Other Ranks of the 1 SLCMP Regiment.
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