President during His Maiden Visit to the SFHQ-E Mingles with All Rankers

President Maithripala Sirisena, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces undertaking his first formal visit to meet Security Force personnel, serving the East, arrived at the Welikanda Mahaweli grounds on  Sunday (24) morning, in the company of the Secretary Defence, Mr. B.M.U.D Basnayake and Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army.  

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army together with Major General Janaka Walgama, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E) after a warm welcome to the President and the Secretary Defence, conducted the Chief Guest to the nearby 2 (V) Sri Lanka Signal Corps grounds where military honours were awaiting the President’s arrival.

Sri Lanka Engineers troops of the SFHQ-E presented a Guard of Honour and saluted the visiting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for the first time at the SFHQ-E premises after he assumed office in January, this year.

Giving a symbolic significance to his maiden visit to the location, President Sirisena was invited to plant a tree sapling in the premises before the President spoke to all ranks who had gathered there.

Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, General Officer Commanding, 23 Division in keeping with military traditions, reported the troops who had assembled there to listen to him before Major General Janaka Walgama, Commander, SFHQ-E welcomed the visiting Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces presenting a detailed account of the roles and tasks of the troops before he respectfully invited him to address all rankers serving the Eastern region of Sri Lanka.

In his address to the troops, President Maithripala Sirisena highlighted the sensitive nature of the notion of national security and also the importance of it for the country’s forward-march.

President Sirisena summed up the few of the projects that have been implemented for the greater benefit of the security forces at all levels. He mentioned once again plans are afoot to devise a national security plan covering all aspects of necessary areas. It has already been taken up in the National Security Council and will be finalized shortly with the support of tri-service consultations.

He assured that all aspects of welfare and facilities of the tri-service personnel will be looked after to ensure all possible assistance to lead comfortable lives.

While appreciating the troop contribution to the development of the country, the President told the gathering that the valuable support of the security forces need to be mustered for the development of the country in the future too.      

Soon after the Chief Guest of the day left his signature in the SFHQ-E visitors’ book, President Sirisena freely mingled with all rankers over a cup of tea and took time off to patiently listen to them and share a couple of thoughts with them.

Finally, Major General Janaka Walgama, Commander, SFHQ-E, representing all the troops in the East, awarded a symbolic memento to the President as a gesture of gratitude and remembrance.