Secretary Defence as Chief Guest Awards President’s Commissions to SLMA-Groomed New Officer Cadets in Glittering Ceremony

Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunarathne, Secretary Defence as the Chief Guest at the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva graced the ceremonial 95th Passing out Parade (PoP) of 187 Officer Cadets at Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), the Sri Lanka Army’s prestigious seat of learning on Saturday (19) amidst scores of greetings and best wishes.

The SLMA parade ground, well poised in a setting of a very magnificent spectacle of national importance with fluttering multi-coloured military flags in the background to suit the day’s perfect event, then turned to be a hive of activity as the Parade Commander, Major R.A.A Ranawaka of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry sought the formal permission from the day’s Chief Guest, now on the special dais, to continue the proceedings.

After the formal review of the parade, the Chief Guest on behalf of the Commander in chief of the Armed Forces awarded most prestigious President’s Commissioning Swords to the Officer Cadets, symbolizing their much-admired commissions before receiving the salute from the new officers in the colourful parade. Those 187 Cadet Officers who underwent the extensive SLMA training in Regular Intakes 88, 88 Bravo (Intake 32, 33, 35 of Kotelawala Defence University), 89, 90, Lady 18 and Volunteer Lady 18 were awarded their formal commissions by the day’s Chief Guest during this colourful and dignified ceremony, attended by tri service Senior Officers, retired Senior Officers, invitees, foreign envoys, instructors, parents, next of kin and a gathering of well-wishers.

Upon his arrival, the day’s Chief Guest whose yesteryear legacy of attachment to the SLMA was obviously once again refreshed was respectfully received at the entrance to the SLMA premises by Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, together with Brigadier Chrishantha Gnanaratne, Commandant, SLMA before he was ushered to the parade ground where the day’s main spectacle got underway.

Not forgetful of invaluable past sacrifices of fallen War Heroes, a few seconds later, the Chief Guest, together with his host, laid a floral wreath at the SLMA war memorial, situated a few meters away from the parade ground as the first segment in the day’s agenda and honoured the memory of fallen service patriots in a solemn minute of silence as all spectators stood up in reverence.

As patriotic melodies began rendering the air, the Chief Guest afterwards commenced the ceremonial presentation of ornamental Commissioning Swords to the graduates, symbolic of their formal commissioning in the Sri Lanka Army as the stage was getting ready for those newly-graduated officers to present the colourful salute to the day’s Chief Guest. Best Achievers in separate Intakes were also felicitated at the same occasion, awarding special mementos.

Saturday’s ceremony saw 51 Officer Cadets in the Regular Intake 88, 119 Officer Cadets in the Regular Intake 88 Bravo (Intake 32,33,35 of Kotelawala Defence University), 17 Lady Officer Cadets in Regular Lady Officer Cadets Intake 18 thus received their commissions before they are formally deployed for service across the island as Lieutenants.

In a separate assembly at the Sino Lanka Friendship Auditorium, along with the SLMA Commandant soon after the commissioning parade, the day’s distinguished guests adorned the shoulders of brave young officers with the insignia of the President’s Commission as one more customary feature in the day’s spectacle (Pipping Ceremony). It was a moment of rejoice, filled with eternal memories for those beloved ones of the new graduates who had hitherto missed them so much during the training period. Health restrictions were strictly adhered during the proceedings.

A memento was also presented to the day’s Chief Guest towards the culmination of the proceedings.

Here follows Award Winners:

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 88

Award for the First in Order of Merit

Bn/U/O S.M Thuduwahenage

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 88 B

Award for the First In Order Of Merit

Pl/U/O R.M.T.G.P Rathnayake

Regular Lady Officer Cadet Intake 18

Award for the First In Order Of Merit

Pl/U/O K.S.M Wijeeweera

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 88

The Sword of Honour for the best all round officer cadet

Bn/U/O S.M Thuduwahenage

Regular Officer Cadet Intake 88B

The Sword of Honour for the best all round Officer Cadet

Pl/U/O H.R.B AlahakoonNike air jordan Sneakers | adidas Yeezy Boost 700 , Ietp