Eighty more Officer Cadets receive their Commissions at SLMA

Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Rathnasiri Wickremanayake as Chief Guest received the salute of eighty Officer Cadets on Saturday (25) at Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) during their passing-out ceremony, graced by Commander of the Army Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda.

Eighty Officer Cadets of the Army, who underwent training for more than a year saw them passed out on the occasion after graduation at this colourful and august ceremony. The two-year long degree programme, followed by forty-four Officer Cadets, is affiliated to the University of Sabargamuwa leading to the Bachelors Degree in Defence Studies.

Soon after parades marched past and presented a General Salute to the Chief Guest, the Parade commander in conformity with military traditions reported the parade in the military way, and subsequently invited the Chief Guest to inspect the Parade in the company of Army Commander Lt. General Kottegoda and the SLMA Commandant, Brigadier M. C. M. P Samarasinghe amidst melodies of “ Pageantry,” “ May Blossoms” and “Over the Waves”.

The ceremony reached its climax as “Le Cadet” rent the air while those graduates to the command received, began to march forward to receive their new Commissions from the Chief Guest and their parents as hundreds of well wishers, Senior Officers of the Army looked on. It was a moment of dignity, pride and patriotic spirits.

Award of trophies and shields to Best performers in this new Intake 57 (Regular) followed afterwards to a loud applause. Battalion Under Officer B. D. C. R Madahapola, who bagged the most number of accolades for his best overall performance, first in order of merits, became the spectacle or the centre of attraction on the occasion since he, to his credit and skills, carried away the President's Award, Award for Tactics and the Sword of Honour awarded to the Best All Round Officer. In his brief address to the graduates, Hon. Minister Wickremanayake thanked the Army Commander for the invitation and reminded them of the symbolic importance of their professional competence to forge ahead in their new career.

The day's proceedings ended after the parade paid its compliments to the Chief Guest and marched off to the tune of famous “Auld Lang Syne,” to be followed by the exit of Bands that added music to the occasion.