‘Rest of the Public Sector & Management Instruments Should Look at Army Way Forward Strategies’ - Principal Presidential Adviser

“I strongly recommend this great effort be also shared with the rest of the public sector by taking it further forward for enhancement of their capacity and confidence-building because they do not know the way the Army does things, the way you manage and take decisions. So people in the rest of the public sector can learn and take the cue from you gentlemen since we are certain of uncertainties in the world more than ever. Uncertainties are beyond our comprehension as technologies have developed by leaps and bounds. Therefore, management instruments should look at these strategies closely and take them on board at ground level using it as a platform that could be used in a more resilient and confident manner,” so commented Principal Presidential Adviser Mr Lalith Weeratunge attending the launch of the ‘Sri Lanka Army Way Forward Strategy 2020-2025’ (SLAWFS) as the Chief Guest at the Army HQ this morning (22).

Continuing his speech after accepting the maiden copy of the ‘SLAWFS’, together with the Secretary Defence, Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne from the architect of the project, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Mr Weeratunge went on to commend the efforts of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and his team for compilation of the comprehensive compendium, a collection of strategies which can make go forward as an organization which must know where it need to go, based on a seven pillar approach that has been mentioned here, which is after all very crucial for a national army perspective where national security is number one. “Commencing from national security to nation-building and to reconciliation, the Army has encompassed its role as envisaged in its current commitment in the control of COVID-19 pandemic which has won the respect and admiration of all the countrymen. I believe these pillars could be further modified so as to incorporate ‘uncertainties’ as well. It is the Army which has a vision for that with its great human resources, a quality human resource where such manpower is absent elsewhere. You have already built upon your pillars on a set of five core objectives and those abilities, like readiness, reliability, relevance, resilience and respectability are no doubt would make the Sri Lanka Army the greatest strength for the nation as it has repeatedly proved,” he added.

“HE the President has the full confidence in your Commander of the Army and he confidently knows that you (the Army) have strategies for the national security readiness in the country which has kept us in good stead. You have shown your exceptional preparedness to undertake responsibilities, immaculate implementation ability, professionalism, well-equipped manpower, etc. Having browsed through, I came across the most important section in the compendium on ‘directions and guidance’ which gives insights into strategic management as I too have studied some time ago. Once internationally-renowned leadership author, Stephen Covey in his book on ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, asked “From where do strategies come from?” The answer was thought-provoking, it was “from the Armed Forces”, he has stated because the armies have the ability to combat and face the enemy all the time. Strategies that you have formulated with hard work for the next couple of years would be a platform that would take all of you together in a more resilient and confident manner,” he concluded. (See the Photo Story)Running Sneakers | Nike News