09th January 2023 19:27:41 Hours
The inauguration of the ‘Humanitarian De-Mining Course - 1', designed for potential Army retirees who could take up overseas assignments in future after retirement took place this morning (9) at the Army Headquarters, headed by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest.
Designed by the Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE) of the Army, the Course expects to train 500 serving Officers and Other Ranks under three phases who could be deployed overseas for de-mining tasks soon after their retirement, following the conceptual guidance given by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, His Excellency the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The maiden Course is followed by 152 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the SLE who are to be enlisted to the volunteer reserve of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force on the eve of their retirement. The Course commences on 12 January and culminates on 06 February 2023 at the Engineers Brigade Headquarters in Boo Oya.
The main objective of the Course is to enable retired soldiers to lead their retired life meaningfully while simultaneously drawing much-needed foreign exchange to the country after they are recruited for overseas openings through various International agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Army Chief on arrival at the inaugural ceremony was welcomed by Major General C.D Weerasuriya RWP RSP ndu, Chief of Staff, together with Major General M.K Jayawardane RSP USP ndu, Chief Field Engineer and Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Engineers.
The day’s proceedings began with an introductory speech made by Major General M.K Jayawardane RSP USP ndu, in which he highlighted the composition of the said Course curriculum and its usefulness. Afterwards, he invited the day’s Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage to deliver the inaugural address.
The Commander in his brief address to the occasion underlined the significance of following these types of professional courses, for which there exists many openings at international level. He also mentioned that all Army members upon retirement could continue to render their services to the nation and the world at large, using knowledge and skills that have been imparted to them in multifarious professional spheres, not generally known to everyone.
The inaugural ceremony also saw that a financial grant was awarded to those Course attendees for purchase of their stationery, needed during the Course. The Commander of the Army symbolized the disbursement of those incentives by presenting the full grant to the Warrant Officer I W.A.M Sirinanda at the same occasion.
Several Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks participated in the inaugural ceremony.
