General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army on Tuesday (16) morning called at the Security Force Headquarters - Central (SFHQ-CEN) at Diyatalawa with a view to meeting a cross-section of serving troops before he assumes duties as new Chief of Defence Staff.
On arrival there Major General Channa Goonetillake, Security Force Commander, Central welcomed the Army Chief before he drove past a Guard Turnout plus a Guard of Honour, presented by troops serving the SFHQ-CEN. He planted a tree sapling at SFHQ-CEN premises as a token of memory and posed for a group photo with the troops at SFHQ-CEN after a brief interaction. Soon after it, the Commander received another Guard of Honour salute from the officer cadets at Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), in which he was a reputed Commandant a few years ago after placing a wreath at the SLMA memorial. The visiting Commander afterwards began the next most important segment of his itinerary after meeting the SFHQ-CEN troops.
Talking to the troops, the outgoing Commander summed up how he transformed the wartime Army to be that of a peacetime one. ‘Tremendous efforts were made to bring back professional standards of the Army, similar to the times of 1970s after making most necessary structural changes to the organization. Due to battlefield commitments, like in any other Army in the world, we had to leave peripheral projects unattended. The Army was brought back to its old professional standards on par with international standards during my office after the war. As a result early in January, separate headquarters like the Central and West were raised, enabling the respective area Commanders to manage the troops more effectively and easily. Similarly, Diyatalawa Army Training Command, Buttala Officer Carrier Development Center and several other training centers including logistics schools were established. In the meantime, all possible avenues were explored to enhance the number of foreign training opportunities for our soldiers. More than 40 Warrant Officers have already received overseas drill training as instructors and more troops will be committed to overseas training in the future too,’ the Commander pointed out.
‘Restoring professionalism in the Army to match with international standards, the Army during my tenure was transformed to go hand in hand with national commitments in a very smooth manner. Unlike any other Army, engaged in a long-drawn battle with bitter experiences, we were able to face national requirements, overcoming all challenges against this vital transformation. We were able to introduce new training courses and joint training projects. ‘Cormorant Strike’ Exercise with participants from foreign countries has now become an annual feature. So far, more than 13 countries have sent their troops for jungle training courses at Maduru Oya and Kuda Oya training institutes. Conduct of the annual Defence Seminar, he said, now about to be held for the 3rd consecutive year in Colombo, projecting ground realities to the world in correct perspective. All these were made possible because of your unfailing support, for which I am very thankful’, the Commander said.
Mapping out the series of welfare projects underway in the organization, the Commander reminded the troops of house construction assistance, being undertaken by ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ project of the Ministry of Defence. As per particulars given in your last pay-slip, you all can apply for such assistance if you have your own piece of land. With founding of Directorate of Veterans, Regimental Seva Vanitha Units, Wellness Resorts, Viru Daru Societies, etc, much has been done for the welfare of soldiers in the past four years.
‘Our scholarship programmes have gone to many beneficiaries in Army families and 250 more scholarships, worth over Rs 2 million, were granted during the ‘Viru Daru Walk’ on Saturday (13) in the presence of Hon Namal Rajapaksa, the Parliamentarian. This was a project to raise funds for disable War Heroes, receiving treatment,’ the Commander added.
Wellness Resorts like ‘Abimansala’ in Anuradhapura and Kamburupitiya, as you all know, provide lifetime care to those disable War Heroes and we all need to sustain them. Many of them are recovering miraculously and some of those who came to these centers, completely disabled, in some instances, are now able to walk, stand erect and write. It was the objective of those places. The next ‘Abimansala’ after Kurunegala will be in the Uva province, and I believe my successor would make it a reality, General Jayasuriya said.
During his speech, he further pointed out how measures were taken to increase the number of metal beds for soldiers in their barracks since the Army numbers had increased during the war. He also spoke of construction of permanent camps with pre-fabricated buildings, instead of temporary ones with less facilities.
The Commander further stated that once he takes over as the Chief of Defence Staff, he will be in constant touch as to find how more and more such projects are being implemented in the Army. He also outlined the number of projects he launched for promotion of sports in the Army. In conclusion, the Commander thanked each and everyone for the support given for execution of his duties in the Army in the past four years.
Meanwhile, before his exit from the SFHQ-CEN, the Commander did not fail to have a word with Officer Cadets under training at Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), in which the Commander was one of the most-respected Commandants. The Commander reminded those Officer Cadets of age-old traditions and formalities, associated with the SLMA as the premier seat of Army learning and significance of maintaining them.
As a piece of advice, the Commander wanted Officer Cadets to prioritize the ‘Country’ before ‘own self’ in all assignments they undertake. Prior to departure from the premises, the Commander placed a wreath and honoured the memorial at the SLMA premises.
On arrival there Major General Channa Goonetillake, Security Force Commander, Central welcomed the Army Chief before he drove past a Guard Turnout plus a Guard of Honour, presented by troops serving the SFHQ-CEN. He planted a tree sapling at SFHQ-CEN premises as a token of memory and posed for a group photo with the troops at SFHQ-CEN after a brief interaction. Soon after it, the Commander received another Guard of Honour salute from the officer cadets at Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), in which he was a reputed Commandant a few years ago after placing a wreath at the SLMA memorial. The visiting Commander afterwards began the next most important segment of his itinerary after meeting the SFHQ-CEN troops.
Talking to the troops, the outgoing Commander summed up how he transformed the wartime Army to be that of a peacetime one. ‘Tremendous efforts were made to bring back professional standards of the Army, similar to the times of 1970s after making most necessary structural changes to the organization. Due to battlefield commitments, like in any other Army in the world, we had to leave peripheral projects unattended. The Army was brought back to its old professional standards on par with international standards during my office after the war. As a result early in January, separate headquarters like the Central and West were raised, enabling the respective area Commanders to manage the troops more effectively and easily. Similarly, Diyatalawa Army Training Command, Buttala Officer Carrier Development Center and several other training centers including logistics schools were established. In the meantime, all possible avenues were explored to enhance the number of foreign training opportunities for our soldiers. More than 40 Warrant Officers have already received overseas drill training as instructors and more troops will be committed to overseas training in the future too,’ the Commander pointed out.
‘Restoring professionalism in the Army to match with international standards, the Army during my tenure was transformed to go hand in hand with national commitments in a very smooth manner. Unlike any other Army, engaged in a long-drawn battle with bitter experiences, we were able to face national requirements, overcoming all challenges against this vital transformation. We were able to introduce new training courses and joint training projects. ‘Cormorant Strike’ Exercise with participants from foreign countries has now become an annual feature. So far, more than 13 countries have sent their troops for jungle training courses at Maduru Oya and Kuda Oya training institutes. Conduct of the annual Defence Seminar, he said, now about to be held for the 3rd consecutive year in Colombo, projecting ground realities to the world in correct perspective. All these were made possible because of your unfailing support, for which I am very thankful’, the Commander said.
Mapping out the series of welfare projects underway in the organization, the Commander reminded the troops of house construction assistance, being undertaken by ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ project of the Ministry of Defence. As per particulars given in your last pay-slip, you all can apply for such assistance if you have your own piece of land. With founding of Directorate of Veterans, Regimental Seva Vanitha Units, Wellness Resorts, Viru Daru Societies, etc, much has been done for the welfare of soldiers in the past four years.
‘Our scholarship programmes have gone to many beneficiaries in Army families and 250 more scholarships, worth over Rs 2 million, were granted during the ‘Viru Daru Walk’ on Saturday (13) in the presence of Hon Namal Rajapaksa, the Parliamentarian. This was a project to raise funds for disable War Heroes, receiving treatment,’ the Commander added.
Wellness Resorts like ‘Abimansala’ in Anuradhapura and Kamburupitiya, as you all know, provide lifetime care to those disable War Heroes and we all need to sustain them. Many of them are recovering miraculously and some of those who came to these centers, completely disabled, in some instances, are now able to walk, stand erect and write. It was the objective of those places. The next ‘Abimansala’ after Kurunegala will be in the Uva province, and I believe my successor would make it a reality, General Jayasuriya said.
During his speech, he further pointed out how measures were taken to increase the number of metal beds for soldiers in their barracks since the Army numbers had increased during the war. He also spoke of construction of permanent camps with pre-fabricated buildings, instead of temporary ones with less facilities.
The Commander further stated that once he takes over as the Chief of Defence Staff, he will be in constant touch as to find how more and more such projects are being implemented in the Army. He also outlined the number of projects he launched for promotion of sports in the Army. In conclusion, the Commander thanked each and everyone for the support given for execution of his duties in the Army in the past four years.
Meanwhile, before his exit from the SFHQ-CEN, the Commander did not fail to have a word with Officer Cadets under training at Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), in which the Commander was one of the most-respected Commandants. The Commander reminded those Officer Cadets of age-old traditions and formalities, associated with the SLMA as the premier seat of Army learning and significance of maintaining them.
As a piece of advice, the Commander wanted Officer Cadets to prioritize the ‘Country’ before ‘own self’ in all assignments they undertake. Prior to departure from the premises, the Commander placed a wreath and honoured the memorial at the SLMA premises.
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