Published on - 3/7/2005
This year's Eighth anniversary commemorations at the 214 Brigade at Puttukulam, Vavuniya, duly mindful of the gravity of the recent tsunami disaster that claimed thousands of innocent lives, were restricted to a series of religious and sports events.
The 214 Brigade, established in 1997 in Puttukulam expressly to cater to operational needs in the area as the warfare intensified in those areas, however used to mark the founding day generally with a series of commemorative feats.
This year, to abide by instructions given by Commander of the Army, Lt General Shantha Kottegoda, in view of the magnitude of the national crisis, the troops instead, selected an all-night Pirith chanting, ceremony conducted by lay men as the first leg of the ceremony.
Cricket matches, attended by Commanding Officers of respective units plus competitions of football and basket ball, were the rest in the agenda for the day. A large gathering of troops attended those events that marked the anniversary.
