30th December 2019 22:10:38 Hours
All island-wide troops, in what could be considered as the biggest ever beach clean-up project, joined hands together with one another in respective formations to coincide with Colombo's inauguration of the mammoth island-wide 'Beach Clean-up' project that kicked off on Sunday (29) from Crow Island, Modera, headed by its architect, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army. (See separate story on this page)
In the Jaffna peninsula, 40 officers and 1035 other ranks under the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna on the instructions of Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander, Security Forces-Jaffna covering the beach patch from Pannei to Chundikulam jumped into action and began collecting all pollutants along the beaches from early morning on Sunday (29). During the course of the day's operation, troops got rid of more than 100 bags of plastic bottles and other toxic pollutants from those beaches.
General Officers Commanding of 51, 52 & 55 Divisions, Senior Staff Officers at the Security Forces Headquarters, Brigade Commanders, Battalion Commanders, Officers, civilians, volunteers, state officials and youngsters in respective areas contributed to the day's project.
Meanwhile, the clean-up programme of the Security Forces-Mullaittivu (MLT) got underway in the same morning (29) with the participation of Major General Jayantha Seneviratne, Commander, Security Forces -MLT and more than 700 of All Ranks covering the beach areas in the 59, 68 and 64 Division HQs.
Mullaittivu's Kokilai coastal belt and the Chalei coastal belt were among beach patches that were also focused during the cleaning project, supported by sections of civilians. Brigadier W.L.P.W Perera, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 59 Division, senior officers of the SFHQ-MLT, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, Officers and Other Ranks contributed to the success of the project.
In the meantime, 54 and 62 Divisions of the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni launched their own beach-cleaning projects along Mannar and Pulmodai beaches on Sunday (29) to coincide with the main event in Colombo under the supervision of the Commander, Security Forces - Wanni, Major General Rohitha Dharmasiri.
Accordingly, the coastal area lying from Mundhan Piddi to Wankalei was cleaned by troops of 12 (V) Sri Lanka Artillery and 10 (V) Gemunu Watch under the 541 Brigade. The cleaning programme from Kayakkuli to Silawathura coastal area was carried out by troops of the 22 Gajaba Regiment, together with 15 Gemunu Watch under the 542 Brigade while the South bar to Keeri coastal area was cleaned by 7 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment troops, along with 5 (V) Gajaba Regiment troops under the 543 Brigade. 24 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry Regiment and 5 (V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry troops also contributed to the clean-up in the coastal areas in Mannar.
General Officer Commanding 54 Division Brigadier D.S.D Welikala directed his under command troops to organize the programme, launched in Mannar coastal areas.
Similarly, troops under command to all formations of the 62 Division gathered in the coastal areas of Pulmodai and covered approximately an area of 15 km. It was launched under the directions of the General Officer Commanding 62 Division Major General J.M.U.D Jayasinghe. In total, about 1000 troops took part in all those cleaning projects under the SFHQ-Wanni.
Likewise, 12 Division troops of the SFHQ-Cen-based in Hambantota also lent their hands to the mega beach cleaning campaign with 22 officers and 263 Other Ranks on Sunday (29).Troops cleaned the coastal belt from Kirinda lagoon to Attala lagoon during the campaign.
The event was graced by the Commander, Security Forces Central, Major General Laksiri Waduge, together with Major General A.L.P.S Thilakarathna, General Officer Commanding, 12 Division and 122 Brigade Commander.
Troops serving the 12 Division, 121 Brigade, 122 Brigade as well as 9 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), 18 Gemunu Watch (GW),23 Gajaba Regiment (GR) and 3 Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) troops contributed to the drive.
As is the case elsewhere, East-based Army troops, commanded by Major General H.R.N Fernando, Commander, Security Forces -East) with much enthusiasm joined hands with one another and carried out mega beach cleaning projects in the coastal areas of Kinniya, Sampoor, Trincomalee Orr’s Hill, Muttur, Verugal and Uppural on the directions of the 22 Division's General Officer Commanding on Sunday (29).
Similarly, 23 Division conducted beach clean-up campaigns in the general areas of Vakarai, Kayankerny, Kalkudah, Challathiv while the 24 Division troops launched the project along the tourist-infested coastal belt from Arugambay to Kalmunai covering about 60 km in distance. Combat Training School trainees at Ampara and trainees in the Recruit Training School, Sandunpura meanwhile joined the mammoth project from their respective locations.
Some members of Municipal Councils in respective areas took part in these projects with Army troops.
Likewise, 142 Brigade troops based in Kohuwala did their share for the mega beach beautification project by cleaning the popular beach patch along Mount Lavinia and Wellawatte.
Commander, Security Forces West, together with 142 Brigade Commander, unit commanders, officers and other ranks joined the campaign.
Meanwhile, troops of the 143 Brigade also joined hands to clean the coastal belt along Wennapuwa covering a stretch of about 6 km on Sunday (29).
On the directions of Brigadier Dhammika Dissanayake, 143 Brigade Commander, over 300 troops of the 143 Brigade, including 16 Gajaba Regiment, 1 Sri Lanka National Guard, Sri Lanka Army Recruits Training Centre, Civil Defence Force troops and civilians joined the drive.
Meanwhile, 141 Brigade troops also contributed their share to the coastal belt cleaning from the Negombo’s Kepungoda church to Thalahena church in the beach area with the participation of 250 plus troops.
Meanwhile, in line with the island-wide beach clean-up project, initiated by the Commander of the Army, the troops of the SFHQ-Kilinochchi launched a clean-up programme along the western coastal belt, situated in areas served by 65 and 66 Division areas covering from Nachchikuda to Pooneryn.
General Officer Commanding of 65 Division, 651 Brigade Commander, 661 Brigade Commander, Commanding Officers of respective Brigades and more than 250 troops participated in the project with groups of civilians. buy footwear | Air Jordan Release Dates 2021 Updated , Gov
