16th December 2020 21:51:41 Hours
Heralding the inauguration of a new era for production of sophisticated and most modern innovative equipment, creative hardware products and heavy vehicles that could also bring much-needed foreign exchange to the country, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army was in Kosgama this morning (12) to lay the cornerstone for construction of the state-of-the art new Base Workshop building of the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) Regiment which has already made a breakthrough in many an innovative product of international standards.
"The SLEME's electrical and mechanical engineers in the past few months have made new great strides in producing a fleet of new vehicles of high standards, some of which like Unicorn buffels have already received the UN recognition for use in overseas peacekeeping missions. Lately, its support to the control work of COVID-19 in the country by way of supplying all technical equipment, accessories and vehicles is significant and symbolized its potential and the innovative knowledge those SLEME workforce possessed. It is truly a matter of pride to all in the Army," the day's Chief Guest for the foundation-laying remarked addressing the SLEME troops after the inaugural phase. The workshop was earlier operational in a small area inside the Kosgama Army Industry complex.
Major General Duminda Sirinaga, Deputy Chief of Staff & Colonel Commandant of the SLEME at the main entrance to the venue welcomed the Army Chief visiting them on the SLEME's Corps Day and invited him to review the Guard Turnout, presented in his honour at the entrance to the Base Workshop premises.
The new base workshop, housed in a 4-acre plot of land using completely renovated steel structures that would accommodate production of heavy vehicles spaciously, needed for nation-building roles and national security tasks of the tri services is believed to be the biggest such workshop among the tri services, capable of introducing a wide assortment of innovations in future. Brigadier Indu Samarakoon, Director, Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (DEME) on the guidelines given by the SLEME Colonel Commandant Major General Duminda Sirinaga was instrumental in converting the rugged area to make it the ideal workshop that could innovate new and modern accessories, heavy vehicles, appliances of military use, etc, thus saving a huge sum of foreign exchange.
Depicting their electrical and mechanical prowess, a remote controlled vehicle, made out of an old military jeep then facilitated the passage of the day's Chief Guest to the parade ground for him to receive the salute of the formal Guard of Honour. Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva after review of the parade took their salute from a special dais before joining to plant a jak sapling in the new Base Workshop premises. The day's sequence of proceedings got to a start after the day's Chief Guest unveiled the new plaque, done with the help of a remote controller and a Base Workshop Signboard that signifies the inaugural construction of the expansion of the modern Base Workshop of the SLEME.
Afterwards, the Army Chief visited the existing workshop premises and marked the opening of the small arms section inside the compound. Inside it, SLEME innovators impressed the day's Chief Guest by presenting a few SLEME-innovated vehicles (AVALON 6x6, AIMOV 4x4 and UniCOLT), through which AVALON 6x6 is capable of gathering artificial intelligence with real-time information from any terrain with the help of its sophisticated accessories, including cameras, drones, bullet-proof accessories and jammers, etc.
This vehicle has been produced to support UN missions and the SLEME expects the UN green light to commence its manufacture in future.
Major General Duminda Sirinaga towards the end of the day's agenda after the Commander's address to the troops, presented a token of appreciation to the day's Chief Guest for his visit to the location. He was also invited to pose for a few photos, minutes after he left compliments in the Visitors' Book.
Senior officers, including Brigadier Indu Samarakoon, Director, Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, SLEME Centre Commandant and Other Ranks attended the day's proceedings. Nike footwear | 2021 New adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 "Ash Stone" GW0089 , Ietp
