The Army’s magnificent spectacle, Colours Night - 2012 that recognizes unmatched sports talents of Army personnel at both national and international levels, got underway Monday (21) evening at Musaeus College auditorium.
The colourful ceremony with dancing and singing performances kicked off after distinguished guests lit the traditional oil lamp and recited the Army song. Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to HE the President graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Navy and Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama, Commander of the Air Force, attended the glittering and much-awaited event as distinguished guests at the invitation of the Army.
Lighting of the traditional oil lamp, observance of one-minute silence to honour the memory of fallen War Heroes and recital of the Army song preceded the welcome speech, made by Major General R.M.D Ratnayake, Chief of Staff and Chairman, Army Sports Committee.
The Army Colours Night - 2012, the annual ceremony in the Army calendar recognizes outstanding sport achievements of dedicated sportsmen and women of all regiments who do exceptionally well at Army, Regiment, Defence Services, National and International Levels, fetching honour and credit to both the organization and the country at large.
Monday’s (21) glamorous event awarded Regimental Colours to 187 Army personnel and Laurels to 269. Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (SLAWC), Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC), Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) and Gajaba Regiment (GR) led the list of the highest number of recipients with 114, 40, 35, 32 and 26 colour and laurel recipients respectively.
As the highlights continued, a touching moment of truth dawned as disable sportsmen with the Best Disable Sportsman lined up for receipt of special awards, together with the Best Sportsman and the Best Sportswoman. Monday’s Colours Night also saw six disable Army personnel carrying away Colours for their talents in swimming, wheelchair tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, cycling, volleyball, shooting, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basket ball, weight-lifting and body building.
President’s Secretary Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage and Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama and a few senior officers including Major General Crishantha De Silva, Commander, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force presented those colours and laurels to the most outstanding sports personalities of the Army under 5 segments. Mr Weerathunga bestowed colours and laurels on the Best Sportsman, Best Sportswoman and the Best Disable Sportsman as the day’s ceremony reached its apex.
However, considering the large number of laureates in all categories, only a representative 100 Army recipients received their symbols of excellence and recognition on the occasion from the distinguished guests.
Warrant Officer II S.M.M Samarakoon of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC) was adjudged the Best Army Sportsman in the year considering his achievements both here and abroad.
Best Sportswoman of the year was Corporal N.M.C Dilrukshi of the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC) who showed her skills in the field of athletics.
Staff Sergeant U.P.G.P Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) was adjudged the Best Disable Sportsman of the year and a thundering ovation reverberated as he stepped on to the stage to receive his laurels.
Ten Army sportsmen and women, including two disable Army Sportsmen were recognized as Best Sportsmen and Sportswomen in the year 2012. Corporal N.M.C Dilrukshi of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Athletics), Corporal M.A Diwarathne of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (Boxing), Lieutenant B.A.W Mendis of Sri Lanka Artillery (Cricket), Sergeant S Presanna of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (Cricket), Staff Sergeant U P G P Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (Para Athletic), Staff Sergeant P A L Pushpakumara of Gajaba Regiment (Para Athletic), Lance Corporal M.M.A.S Perera of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Rugby), Warrant Officer II S.M.M Samarakoon of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (Shooting), Corporal P.M.A.G Sandamali of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Taekwondo) and Corporal C.S.S.P Wijesooriya of Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (Weight Lifting) were the top best personnel who carried away Colours on the occasion.
Service commitments and other inevitable circumstances, associated with the country's fight against terrorism before the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, stalled the conduct of the Army Colours Night after the year 1997 and the Defence Services Colours Night after 2003. However, the Army Colours Night resumed in 2010 after the Commander of the Army took the initiative in that direction after the culmination of the war.
All those laureates have shown extraordinary performances in Athletics, Volleyball, Archery, Badminton, Netball, Boxing, Cricket, Elle, Hockey, Judo, Kabbadi, Karate, Motor Sports, Basketball, Body-building, Weight-lifting, Swimming, Rugby, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Handball and Wrestling in 2012.
Monday's (21) Colours Night also saw a total of 6 disable Army personnel carry away Colours for their talents in swimming, wheelchair tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, cycling, volley ball, shooting, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basketball, weight lifting and body building.
The Commander of the Army during his brief address to the occasion spoke high of the attainments of Army sportsmen and women and assured his best cooperation and assistance at all times.
A packed audience of a large number of senior officers, their spouses and invitees attended the ceremony. President Army Sports Committees welcomed the invitees after observation of one-minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes. Eye-catching intermittent entertainment features, added colour to the occasion.
The colourful ceremony with dancing and singing performances kicked off after distinguished guests lit the traditional oil lamp and recited the Army song. Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to HE the President graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Commander of the Navy and Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama, Commander of the Air Force, attended the glittering and much-awaited event as distinguished guests at the invitation of the Army.
Lighting of the traditional oil lamp, observance of one-minute silence to honour the memory of fallen War Heroes and recital of the Army song preceded the welcome speech, made by Major General R.M.D Ratnayake, Chief of Staff and Chairman, Army Sports Committee.
The Army Colours Night - 2012, the annual ceremony in the Army calendar recognizes outstanding sport achievements of dedicated sportsmen and women of all regiments who do exceptionally well at Army, Regiment, Defence Services, National and International Levels, fetching honour and credit to both the organization and the country at large.
Monday’s (21) glamorous event awarded Regimental Colours to 187 Army personnel and Laurels to 269. Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (SLAWC), Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC), Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) and Gajaba Regiment (GR) led the list of the highest number of recipients with 114, 40, 35, 32 and 26 colour and laurel recipients respectively.
As the highlights continued, a touching moment of truth dawned as disable sportsmen with the Best Disable Sportsman lined up for receipt of special awards, together with the Best Sportsman and the Best Sportswoman. Monday’s Colours Night also saw six disable Army personnel carrying away Colours for their talents in swimming, wheelchair tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, cycling, volleyball, shooting, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basket ball, weight-lifting and body building.
President’s Secretary Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage and Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal H.D Abeywickrama and a few senior officers including Major General Crishantha De Silva, Commander, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force presented those colours and laurels to the most outstanding sports personalities of the Army under 5 segments. Mr Weerathunga bestowed colours and laurels on the Best Sportsman, Best Sportswoman and the Best Disable Sportsman as the day’s ceremony reached its apex.
However, considering the large number of laureates in all categories, only a representative 100 Army recipients received their symbols of excellence and recognition on the occasion from the distinguished guests.
Warrant Officer II S.M.M Samarakoon of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC) was adjudged the Best Army Sportsman in the year considering his achievements both here and abroad.
Best Sportswoman of the year was Corporal N.M.C Dilrukshi of the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps (SLAWC) who showed her skills in the field of athletics.
Staff Sergeant U.P.G.P Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) was adjudged the Best Disable Sportsman of the year and a thundering ovation reverberated as he stepped on to the stage to receive his laurels.
Ten Army sportsmen and women, including two disable Army Sportsmen were recognized as Best Sportsmen and Sportswomen in the year 2012. Corporal N.M.C Dilrukshi of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Athletics), Corporal M.A Diwarathne of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (Boxing), Lieutenant B.A.W Mendis of Sri Lanka Artillery (Cricket), Sergeant S Presanna of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (Cricket), Staff Sergeant U P G P Sanjaya of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (Para Athletic), Staff Sergeant P A L Pushpakumara of Gajaba Regiment (Para Athletic), Lance Corporal M.M.A.S Perera of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Rugby), Warrant Officer II S.M.M Samarakoon of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (Shooting), Corporal P.M.A.G Sandamali of Sri Lanka Army Woman’s Corps (Taekwondo) and Corporal C.S.S.P Wijesooriya of Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (Weight Lifting) were the top best personnel who carried away Colours on the occasion.
Service commitments and other inevitable circumstances, associated with the country's fight against terrorism before the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, stalled the conduct of the Army Colours Night after the year 1997 and the Defence Services Colours Night after 2003. However, the Army Colours Night resumed in 2010 after the Commander of the Army took the initiative in that direction after the culmination of the war.
All those laureates have shown extraordinary performances in Athletics, Volleyball, Archery, Badminton, Netball, Boxing, Cricket, Elle, Hockey, Judo, Kabbadi, Karate, Motor Sports, Basketball, Body-building, Weight-lifting, Swimming, Rugby, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Handball and Wrestling in 2012.
Monday's (21) Colours Night also saw a total of 6 disable Army personnel carry away Colours for their talents in swimming, wheelchair tennis, athletics, badminton, table tennis, cycling, volley ball, shooting, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair badminton, wheelchair basketball, weight lifting and body building.
The Commander of the Army during his brief address to the occasion spoke high of the attainments of Army sportsmen and women and assured his best cooperation and assistance at all times.
A packed audience of a large number of senior officers, their spouses and invitees attended the ceremony. President Army Sports Committees welcomed the invitees after observation of one-minute silence in honour of fallen War Heroes. Eye-catching intermittent entertainment features, added colour to the occasion.
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