VIR Regimental HQ Salutes its Newly-Promoted Senior Officers

The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment HQ in keeping with traditions and military formalities, saluted the newly-promoted Senior Officers of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on Tuesday (9) in a fitting ceremony, held at the VIR Regimental Centre at Boyagane, Kurunegala, giving pride of place to health precautions and guidelines stipulated to prevent COVID-19 outbreak.

Major General Prasanna Ranawaka, General Officer Commanding, 12 Infantry Division, Major General Nalin Koswatta, General Officer Commanding, 23 Infantry Division, Major General Deepal Pussella, General Officer Commanding, 62 Infantry Division and Brigadier Sumal Hemarathna, Commander 581 Brigade were felicitated during their first formal visits to the VIR Regimental Centre after their promotions.

Upon Brigadier Sumal Hemarathna’s arrival at the VIR Regimental Centre, Colonel Rukshan Kannangara, Deputy Centre Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment warmly received the day's first Guest of Honour and a subsequent Guard Turnout at the entrance greeted him in accordance with military formalities. Then giving pride of place to the memory of all fallen Vijayabahu War Heroes, Brigadier Sumal Hemarathna, laid the floral wreaths at the War Heroes Monument and PWV Monument and paid his tribute in a solemn ceremony.

Then, three more salutes were respectively offered to other protagonists of the day, Major General Prasanna Ranawaka, Major General Nalin Koswatta and Major General Deepal Pussella. In accordance with military formalities and guidelines of the Army Headquarters, a Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour, saluted them after they were warmly received by Brigadier Nalin Bandaranayake, the Centre Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment after they were accorded Guard Turnout honours.

Paying their deep respect to the memory of fallen Vijayabahu War Heroes, they were ushered to lay floral wreaths at the VIR War Heroes' Monument and PWV Heroes' Monument. The solemn ceremony recalled past memories of fallen VIR War Heroes with dignity as the surroundings remained calm and quiet.

Adding patriotic sentiments to the occasion, the day’s Guests of Honour at the request of the Parade Commander, afterwards, reviewed the Guard of Honour seconds before they formally received the general salute from a special dais.

Leaving an indelible gesture in the premises, these Senior Officers were later on invited to pose for a group photograph with the Regimental Staff and Colonel of the Regiment, followed by an All Rank Tea arrangement at the Other Ranks' Mess. Symbolic mementoes were also presented by the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Sisira Pilapitiya as tokens of memory.

Later on, the Colonel of the Regiment spoke to all newly-promoted officers of the Regiment at the Archers’ Cinema and gave his thoughts of uplifting and maintaining VIR dignity in all areas. As the day’s final showcase, they were invited to the Officers’ Lunch at the “Salute” Multifunctional Hall.

Senior Officers, Regimental Staff officers and Other Ranks witnessed these series of memorable events. Buy Kicks | Gifts for Runners