SFHQ-J Anniversary Held with Many Programmes

Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) which turned 21 years of age, marked its anniversary in a week-long chain of events, giving pride of place to religious observances and community welfare projects during June 22 - 27.

Arrangements, organized on the instructions of Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) began Friday (16) morning with a Hindu Pooja, held at Maviddapuram Sri Skanda temple where the SFHQ-J flag was blessed in the presence of a gathering of all ranks. An Islamic prayer session at the Jaffna Jumma mosque, the same evening (16), attended by Muslim members serving the SFHQ-J, invoked blessings on the 21st anniversary of the SFHQ-J.

On Sunday (18) a Catholic Mass at the St Mary’s Church in the Jaffna town and a separate Bodhi Pooja ceremony at the SFHQ-J Bodhiya premises inside conducted religious programmes and blessed the SFHQ-J anniversary.

On Monday (19), a Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour, presented to the Commander, SF-J, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi by 10 Filed Engineer Regiment to be in line with military formalities at the SFHQ-J premises, saluted the Jaffna Commander on arrival as part of the anniversary programmes. A few minutes later, the Commander planted a Mango sapling in the premises and added memories to the anniversary.

On the same day, the Commander, together with several officers to coincide with the anniversary, visited Army patients receiving treatment at the Palaly Army Base Hospital and distributed some gift parcels among them after inquiring into their well-being.

A few hours later, All Ranks in the SFHQ-J, attaching additional importance to the anniversary arrangements sat together with the Commander and Officers for a fellowship-lunch as another feature of the event.

The following day, more than 175 Army personnel serving the peninsula gave away blood to the blood bank at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital during an arrangement at the SFHQ-J premises. Medical Officers, Dr T. Vis Vethithan and Dr A Arangan of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital assisted the blood donation campaign.

As the final segment of the anniversary events, a Shramadana campaign, organized by the SFHQ-J troops took place on Thursday (22) at the Telippalai Cancer Hospital premises which needed a thorough cleaning. A musical variety show on the following day (23) brought the anniversary events to end.