SFHQ-J Troops Assist to Conserve Jaffna Coastal Belt

Troops of the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) in cooperation with the Coast Conservation Department and Lions Club 306 B2 launched a mega coastal conservation project at Myladdi Fishing Harbour premises in Jaffna on Saturday (21).

Responding positively to a request made by the Coast Conservation Department in the peninsula for manpower, Major General Dharshana Hettiarrachchi, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) gave the green light and instructed the 51 Division Headquarters and the 515 Brigade Headquarters to support the valuable project .

The brief inaugural ceremony for the project got underway planting 150 saplings symbolically at Myladdi Fishing Harbour area Saturday (21) evening in the presence of Mr S. Muralidaran, Additional District Secretary for Jaffna, Coastal Department Officials, Major General Dharshana Hettiarrachchi, Commander, SF-J, Major General Mervyn Perera, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 51 Division, Mrs Shyama De Silva, Governor of Lions 306 B2, Divisional Secretary for Thelippalai, several state officials, Lion Club members, Officers and Other Ranks.

Each coconut sapling, planted under the programme that went on throughout Sunday (22) has been entrusted to each soldier and a civilian in the respective place for maintenance of the sapling until it grows well for about 3 years. The project is expected to plant around 10000 coconut saplings covering the Jaffna peninsula.

Mrs Shyama de Silva, Governor of Lions 306 B2 commended the initiative, taken by the Army to assist a national project of this nature in the peninsula.

Arrangements to the project were also streamlined by Brigade Commander, 515 Brigade on the guidelines given by the General Officer Commanding, 51 Division.