The country’s premier Army seat of learning for officer cadets, Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa had the honour of welcoming the visiting Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Vijay Kumar Singh and his delegation on Wednesday (8).
General Singh along with his delegation, now on the last lap of their five-day goodwill visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of his Sri Lanka’s counterpart, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, was warmly received on arrival at SLMA grounds by Brigadier J.R. Kulatunge, Commandant, SLMA and his wife, Mrs Kulatunge.
The Indian Army Chief, one of the most senior regional Army officers to visit this academic institute in the recent past, was conducted to inspect the Guard Turnout, provided by soldiers at the SLMA in accordance with military traditions. The visiting Army Chief afterwards commemorated fallen War Heroes before the SLMA war memorial after laying floral wreaths. The moment remained solemn as other visiting Army delegates also joined afterwards.
In order for the Indian Army Chief to get a glimpse of the cadet training sessions at SLMA parade ground, the delegation was invited to the venue as a major segment of the day’s itinerary.
A few minutes later, the delegation received a formal briefing on the roles and tasks of the country’s pioneer Army officer training institute from Brigadier Kulatunge, Commandant who welcomed the visiting Army officers. His presentation was supplemented with a documentary film, made on the history of this prestigious academy. General Singh accompanied by his senior officers paid a visit to the SLMA library and the special language learning support laboratory.
Before he left the SLMA, Diyatalawa, General Singh planted a tree sapling in the SLMA premises as a token of memory of his visit to the place. The SLMA had the rare chance of having a group photo with the visiting Army Chief who extended his best wishes for the success of its future roles. General Singh initialled the visitors book at SLMA office before his departure for Kandy, the same afternoon.
Towards the end of the day’s programme General Singh visited Dalada Maligawa at Kandy and made offerings to the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
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