New Retreading Section Inaugurated Saving Millions on Army Vehicles

The modern state-of-the-art retreading section in the recently-established Ordnance Factory of the Army at Dombagoda, Horana formally began its function this morning (20) after Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, its architect ceremonially inaugurated it.

The milestone new tyre retreading section, which cost Rs 14 m for the Army is capable of retreading a total of 8804 vehicle tyres of the Army per annum, thereby saving a whopping Rs 20.5 m annually to the organization. 36 tyres are to be retreaded daily in this new section.

Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest on arrival at Dombagoda premises was warmly received by Major General Renaka V Udawatta, Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps, in the company of Major General Channa Goonetilleke, Chief of Staff and several other senior officers.

A drive-past Guard Turnout in keeping with Army traditions saluted the visiting Army chief at the entrance before the Chief Guest was conducted to the factory in a colourful procession of Ves dancers.

The opening of the retreading section in the Ordnance Factory signals a new turning point in the Army’s story of modernizing and restructuring of its infrastructure facilities as well, to be in parallel with fast changing, innovative prospects and challenging dimensions at global levels. The new section is manned by 6 officers and 300 other rankers and commanded by Brigadier H.L Guruge, Factory Commandant.

After inaugurating the retreading section, the Commander took time off to inspect other areas of potential products, now in the pipeline, such as new initiatives of shoe production, manufacture of ladies’ hand bags, embroidery production technique for badges, and manufacture of berets flags, etc, still on experimental basis in separate sections inside the Ordnance Factory complex.

During his stay there, the Commander also had a close look at an informative display of several factory-manufactured and technically-modified accessories, needed to the Army for regular use. He also inquired into several aspects of production processes of such items while viewing them and encouraged those in charge of those sections to do their best for the organization since the Army is always ready to help such moves.

The Commander was also afterwards invited to mark his presence at the premises by unveiling a symbolic plaque and cutting a ribbon before the new section was formally opened. Adding memories, the Commander signed the visitors’ book, posed for a group photo and addressed the troops serving the factory.

Both the Army Ordnance Factory at Dombagoda and the mega Army Industrial Workshop at Kosgama came into being in September 2014 with the objective of producing most-needed varieties of hardware, barrack equipment, machinery tools and all other own accessories, required for the Army.

The Commander through these projects expects to develop and promote Army skills, innovative creativity, knowledge on modern technology, access to quality products, and provide second career options for hundreds of soldiers through craftsmanship, etc upon their retirement. More importantly, the project would save foreign exchange and local costs for the organization while supplying critical needs of the Army on priority basis.

The initial capital Rs 14 million for the project had been allocated by the Master General Ordnance (MGO) branch of the Army through Directorate of Ordnance Services (DOS) and another sum of Rs 1.4 million had been set apart to purchase raw materials, required for the project.