19th February 2023 17:55:34 Hours
The National Cadets Corps (NCC) received Presidential Colours and Regiment Colours from His Excellency, the President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a colourful ceremony at the NCC Training Centre (NCCTC) in Rantembe on Sunday (Feb 19) in the presence of a large gathering of distinguished guests and invitees.
Before award of those Colours to the NCC, a ceremonial parade, composed of 23 Officers, 11 Drill Instructors, 10 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, and 297 Cadets commanded by Colonel Hemantha Dewapura, Trainee Inspector, NCCTC honoured the day's Chief Guest as a formality.
Afterwards, HE the President after reading out the formal citation attributable to the recognition awarded Presidential Colours and Regiment Colours presenting both symbolic flags to representatives of the NCC. In addition, Brigadier G.S Fonseka USP psc, Director, NCC read the oath of protecting the nation on behalf of the NCC during the ceremony. Finally, the day's protagonist addressed the gathering highlighting the importance of the NCC role and praising the service, being rendered to the motherland.
The NCC was inaugurated in 1881 as a Cadet platoon at Royal College, Colombo and evolved to be called as the National Cadet Corps in 1988. Presently, it is made up of 09 Provincial Headquarters, 31 Battalions, 3871 western and eastern Cadet bands and over 3000 Officers islandwide.
State Minister of Defence, Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Governor of the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Mr Lalith U Gamage, Chief of Staff of the President and Senior Advisor to the President, Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to Ministry of Defence, General (Retd) Kamal Gunarathne, Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, President Army Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs Janaki Liyanage, Director, NCC, Brigadier G.S Fonseka USP psc and Tri-Service Officers, were associated with the ceremony.
