Continuing to remain steadfast in his firm belief that best quality welfare measures for both officers and soldiers should be prioritized as one of the major prime concerns in the organization, the peacetime Army in the north while performing its legitimate duties in respective areas for betterment of the community it serves, is actively engaged in upgrading its ad hoc infrastructure facilities on the instructions of the Commander of the Army.
Construction of a new state-of the art two-storied Officers' Mess Building at the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J) premises and its subsequent ceremonial opening Tuesday (20) morning by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, SFHQ-J amply, endorses the accepted norm that military should always try its maximum to uphold high standards, military traditions and practices, many of which had been introduced to the organization by our colonial masters, although pragmatic ground requirements at times, do not necessarily permit to pursue the status quo, as it really should be.
The Army, as the major decisive stakeholder in the fight against ruthless terrorism that plagued our nation for well over 30 years, was compelled to wage war fearlessly on one hand, and expected to maintain those cherished standards to the best of its ability on the other, although it was an arduous challenge in terms of the numbers serving the Army.
However, the Army having defeated the foe and overcome all those challenges are currently in the process of retrieving all what the Army all these years dispensed with. Relocation of new Army field Headquarters in Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu,etc as well as other area formations set up in all strategically vital places for the best interests of all Sri Lankans, aspiring to live in harmony with everybody as one nation in one country, is a visionary concept, nurtured by none other than Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence who himself as a soldier witnessed the ground realities.
Tuesday's opening of the modern Officers' Mess Building complex in fact will remain a monumental tribute to all fallen and serving War Heroes because the new utility building, completed well ahead of the deadline, thanks to round the clock untiring work of 5 Engineer Service Regiment (5 ESR) troops, ably assisted by others at the SFHQ-J, is comprised of a huge dining hall, ante-room, well-equipped kitchen, rest rooms for civil staff serving, entertainment area and a few other facilities that have never been offered to Officers earlier serving the peninsula.
The Chief Guest for the occasion Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army at the entrance to the SFHQ-J premises was honoured by according him a Guard Turnout, befitting military traditions soon after Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe warmly welcomed him. Conducted towards the new construction in a colourful procession, blended with traditional and cultural ethos, the visiting Commander was invited to unveil the plaque and warm the New Mess Building after cutting a ribbon. Invoking blessings, an auspicious pot of milk in keeping with age-old beliefs, was afterwards boiled as a token of prosperity before the Commander went round to see the interior of the construction.
The visiting Commander was then requested to add further significance and memory to the occasion by planting a mango sapling in the new Officers' Mess building premises. During interactions later on, the Commander shared a couple of views with serving officers and exchanged pleasantries while receiving updated accounts on Army's contribution to ongoing development, resettlement, restructure and de-mining projects. Before his exit, the Commander extended his appreciative thanks to the Security Force Commander Jaffna for all his hard work and projects, being pursued by the Army on humanitarian grounds.
At the end of the main ceremony of the day, the Commander went to see some more new Army bungalows under construction close to Thal Sevana Army Holiday Resort.
Construction of a new state-of the art two-storied Officers' Mess Building at the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna (SFHQ-J) premises and its subsequent ceremonial opening Tuesday (20) morning by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, SFHQ-J amply, endorses the accepted norm that military should always try its maximum to uphold high standards, military traditions and practices, many of which had been introduced to the organization by our colonial masters, although pragmatic ground requirements at times, do not necessarily permit to pursue the status quo, as it really should be.
The Army, as the major decisive stakeholder in the fight against ruthless terrorism that plagued our nation for well over 30 years, was compelled to wage war fearlessly on one hand, and expected to maintain those cherished standards to the best of its ability on the other, although it was an arduous challenge in terms of the numbers serving the Army.
However, the Army having defeated the foe and overcome all those challenges are currently in the process of retrieving all what the Army all these years dispensed with. Relocation of new Army field Headquarters in Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu,etc as well as other area formations set up in all strategically vital places for the best interests of all Sri Lankans, aspiring to live in harmony with everybody as one nation in one country, is a visionary concept, nurtured by none other than Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence who himself as a soldier witnessed the ground realities.
Tuesday's opening of the modern Officers' Mess Building complex in fact will remain a monumental tribute to all fallen and serving War Heroes because the new utility building, completed well ahead of the deadline, thanks to round the clock untiring work of 5 Engineer Service Regiment (5 ESR) troops, ably assisted by others at the SFHQ-J, is comprised of a huge dining hall, ante-room, well-equipped kitchen, rest rooms for civil staff serving, entertainment area and a few other facilities that have never been offered to Officers earlier serving the peninsula.
The Chief Guest for the occasion Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army at the entrance to the SFHQ-J premises was honoured by according him a Guard Turnout, befitting military traditions soon after Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe warmly welcomed him. Conducted towards the new construction in a colourful procession, blended with traditional and cultural ethos, the visiting Commander was invited to unveil the plaque and warm the New Mess Building after cutting a ribbon. Invoking blessings, an auspicious pot of milk in keeping with age-old beliefs, was afterwards boiled as a token of prosperity before the Commander went round to see the interior of the construction.
The visiting Commander was then requested to add further significance and memory to the occasion by planting a mango sapling in the new Officers' Mess building premises. During interactions later on, the Commander shared a couple of views with serving officers and exchanged pleasantries while receiving updated accounts on Army's contribution to ongoing development, resettlement, restructure and de-mining projects. Before his exit, the Commander extended his appreciative thanks to the Security Force Commander Jaffna for all his hard work and projects, being pursued by the Army on humanitarian grounds.
At the end of the main ceremony of the day, the Commander went to see some more new Army bungalows under construction close to Thal Sevana Army Holiday Resort.
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