04th October 2023 18:41:10 Hours
A representative gathering of Officers and Other Ranks of Islamic faith in the Army joined a special prayer session this morning (4) at Colpetty Jumma Mosque for invocation of blessings on the forthcoming 74th Army Anniversary as one more segment of multi-religious anniversary observances.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest for the occasion was received on arrival by Brigadier T.M.F Kitchilan RWP RSP, together with Lieutenant Colonel T.M.P Jalal, Secretary of Army Muslim Association and members of the Board of Trustees at Colpetty Jumma Mosque.
The chief clergy (Moulavi) afterwards invited all of them to join the prayer sessions after decorating the holy place in conformity with Islamic religious traditions. Trilingual welcome speeches made by the clergy announced the importance of the event before the proceedings got underway.
The customary Islamic religious sermon, ‘Bayan’ then invoked blessings symbolically on Army flags and the organization, lauding the services of the Army, being rendered for the best interests of the country. The Moulavi performed the special ‘Qirath’ prayer chanting and conducted the wishful prayers, ‘Dua’ according to the sequence of Islamic invocations.
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army after culmination of the special Islamic religious ceremony made a financial donation towards the development of the holy premises and shared his views with Moulavis on co-existence, harmony and reconciliation.
A group of civil devotees also took part in the special prayer session, together with Officers and Other Ranks. Towards the end of the religious ceremony, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage presented a memento to the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Colpetty Jumma Mosque as a gesture of goodwill. The Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees, Colpetty Jumma Mosque reciprocated the move.
On the same occasion, Al - haj Muslim Salahudeen, Chairman Board of Trustees, in return, presented a memento to the day’s Chief Guest, Commander of the Army, as an appreciation on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Similarly, The Secretary, Board of Trustees, awarded a copy of the Holy Quran to the Commander of the Army as a token of goodwill.
Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Principal Staff Officers and a host of Senior Officers were present during the prayers.
