Military Funeral Held for Late Major General L Abeywardena (Rtd) USP of SLASC

The military funeral of Major General L Abeywardena (Rtd) USP of Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC), who had served the country for more than 31 years, took place on Thursday (06 June) afternoon at the Borella General Cemetery.

Retired Senior Officers, Principal Staff Officers, Senior Officers, Directors, and other mourners were also present to salute the late Senior Officer.

In accordance with military traditions, troops received the remains, offering a salute near the cemetery entrance before placing the coffin on the gun carriage, draped with the National flag. As the funeral procession reached the main entrance to the cemetery, a representative gathering of Senior Officers formally received the coffin and began to inch their way towards the crematorium, with all of them together with family members lined up behind the coffin.

The formal Special Part I Order, issued by the Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army, was then read out to the mourners. Troops, in conformity with military traditions, then saluted the deceased, presenting a symbolic gun salute, the highest tribute a military Officer could receive in the event of his demise.

Minutes after the Last Post, the bugle call that sounded, indicating that the great soldier had now gone to his final rest, the remains were taken to the crematorium.

Seconds after that, Major General S.P.A.I.M.B Samarakoon Hdmc Lsc, Overlooking Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, presented the bereaved family with decorations and medals that Major General L Abeywardena (Rtd) USP had earned during his illustrious career, a general tradition in the Armed Forces.

Senior Officers, Retired Senior Officers, Officers, Other Ranks, and Family members of Major General L Abeywardena (Rtd) USP participated in the funeral ceremony.

Here follows the Part 1 Order read out at the funeral;