25th February 2018 13:59:01 Hours
Two Officers and thirty four Other Rankers of the Special Forces regiment who had successfully completed the six-month long, ‘Long Range Patrol’ (LRP) Course No 19 at Special Forces Training School (SFTS) in Maduru Oya received their badges of proficiency during a multi-coloured ceremony, headed by Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army and Colonel of the Regiment, Special Forces at the 3 SF Headquarters in Vavuniya Saturday (24) evening.
Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest, attending the Passing Out ceremony of the Special Forces was received on arrival by the Brigade Commander, Special Forces, Brigadier Sujeewa Senarath Yapa in the company of the Commanding Officer, 3 SF, Major Jayantha Bandara.
The LRP passing out ceremony with its own specific features, deviating from the stereotype as enshrined in the 3 SF Battalion Headquarters took place after a Guard Turnout at the premises saluted the visiting Commander of the Army. Minutes after, the welcome address was delivered by the Commanding Officer, 3 SF.
Afterwards, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army and Colonel of the Regiment, Special Forces pinned the LRP insignia on all the graduates before the SF oath was read out to them. He also presented the trophies to the achievers in the 19th LRP course at the same occasion. After a while, the Chief Guest addressed the audience and shared his thoughts with them. They also sat for a group photo with the Chief Guest before the event drew to a close.
Later on, the Commander of the Army visited the 3 SF Battalion Headquarters and opened a newly-constructed accommodation billet at the ‘I’ squadron and saw for himself how the premises is managed by the 3 SF. Before his exit, he also did not forget to share a couple of views with new graduates.
Afterwards, a special prize-awarding session got underway to award achievers in the PACES-2017 competition, in which the overall team trophy was secured by the Special Forces Regiment (SF) team.
Lance Corporal P.C Kasun of the Special Forces who won the overall ‘Fitness of the Fit’ trophy in the PACES - 2017 was also appreciated during the same ceremony.
The first Inter Regiment PACES competition - 2017 of the Army consisted of Pull-Ups, Sit-Ups and Push-Ups Competition, 3.2 km run, Combat Efficiency Test (CET) including Zig-Zag Run, Fireman Lift, Leopard Crawl, Kitten Crawl, Sprint, 9 Feet Ditch, Ammunition Lift, Grenade Throw and 5 Push Ups, Dive Roll Over 3 Feet Hurdle, Weapon Grabbing, Front Roll and Five Rounds Fire at Kneeling Position at 1x1 target, etc. Teams representing 22 different Regiments participated in selection competitions at Maduru Oya Special Forces Training School (SFTS) during 23-28 March 2017.
Before the ceremony came to a close, the Commander sat together for a group photo with winners in the PACES.
Major General Kumudu Perera, Commander, Security Forces - Wanni (SF-W), together with several Senior SF Officers and a large gathering of invitees were present during the ceremony.
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