04th October 2022 12:40:00 Hours
A special Mass at All Saints' Church, Borella on Monday (3) afternoon blessed the forthcoming 73rd Army Anniversary and Army Day (October 10) as part of the multi-religious religious observances, prior to the date of the anniversary commemoration.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army, together with a representative group of Senior Officers and Other Ranks graced the occasion as the Chief Guest at the invitation of the Army Christian Fellowship.
Major General TJ Kodithuwakku RWP RSP ndu Chief of Staff, Major General WBSM Abeysekara RSP USP, Chairman, Army Christian Fellowship welcomed the day's Chief Guest to the location with Senior Officers.
The special Mass and Thanksgiving service, administered by Auxiliary Bishop Maxwell Silva, Archdiocese of Colombo at the outset of the ceremony symbolically blessed the Army Flag and all Regimental Flags. The clergy in a special move extended blessings separately on the Commander at the same occasion as a recognition of their commitment to the country.
Around the same time, the Holy Mass prayed for the souls of fallen War Heroes and those who had gone missing in action in the battlefields and elsewhere and simultaneously invoked blessings on all Army personnel injured and are still recovering. The priests extolled the Army’s commendable roles in their brief prayer orations.
Towards the end of the service, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage made a financial contribution to the clergy as a token of the Army’s appreciation of their religious services being rendered by the Church for promotion of spiritual values among the public.
Chief of staff, Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Principle Staff Officers, Security Forces Commanders, senior officers and a gathering of Army personnel, representing all Regiments attended the religious ceremony.
At the end of the service, the Army Chief distributed 20 dry ration packs among needy family members attending the service.
