13th October 2021 18:10:50 Hours
The 72nd Army Anniversary commemorative arrangements got underway across all Security Force HQs in parallel with the main spectacle at the Gajaba Regiment HQ at Saliyapura during 1-10 October.
The ceremony at the Security Force Headquarters – Jaffna took place with the participation of Brigadier Admin and Quartering, Security Forces Jaffna, Brigadier D. M. A Bandara and Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks serving at the Headquarters premises.
The ceremony began with the hoisting of the Army Flag, singing of the Army Anthem, a two-minute silence in honour of all Fallen War Heroes, reading of the Army Commander's Message and planting of saplings in the compound. Brigadier Admin and Quartering of Security Force HQ - Jaffna and Senior Officers joined the occasion.
Meanwhile, 11 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment troops of the 521 Brigade of the 52 Division under the SFHQ-J cleaned up the St. Lucas Elders’ Home and provided lunch cooked by them to the residents in this Elders’ Home in Puttur as one more community project that coincided with the 72nd Army Anniversary.
On the invitation of Brigadier MahenSalwatura, Brigade Commander 521 Brigade, General Officer Commanding 52 Division, Brigadier Chandana Wickramasinghe graced the event as the chief guest, together with Rev. Gnanaruban, Pastor at Jaffna Methodist Church in Jaffna, Rev. Robert Shashikaran, Pastor at St. Lucas Church and several Catholic priests in the area.
Meanwhile, SFHQ-MLT on the instructions of Major General SisiraPilapitiya, Commander Security Forces – Mullaittivu, instructed all Divisions, Brigades and Units to plant 10,000 Kumbuk saplings on the Army Day (10 Oct) in conformity with the Army Commander’s ‘ThuruMithuru Nawa Ratak’ and ‘Surakimu Ganga’ project of the President.
Meanwhile, the Security Force Headquarters - West following a similar programme on the instructions of Major General Senarath Yapa, Commander, Security Forces - West took an initiative to plant 10,000 Kumbuk saplings across all Divisions, Brigades and Units to plant 10,000 Kumbuk saplings on the Army Day (10 Oct) in conformity with the Army Commander’s ‘ThuruMithuru Nawa Ratak’ and ‘Surakimu Ganga’ project of the President.
Meanwhile, Major General T.M Abeyrathne, Commander FMA (E) joined hands with FMA-E troops to clean MinneriyaDevalaya compound and the Minneriya Ayurveda hospital premises. 2 SLAOC and Girithale Tank Bund-based 2 SLACMP troops contributed to this commemorative programme that got underway on account of the 72nd Army Anniversary.
Similarly, the 561 Brigade Headquarters of the SFHQ-Wanni launched a project to distribute 250 "Mee" saplings among all state institutions under the Kanagarayankulam Grama Niladhari Division on the instructions of the Commander 561 Brigade, Colonel G.P.P Kulathilake.
Similarly, troops of the 11 Gajaba Regiment of the 663 Brigade of the 66 Division in Pooneryn built a new house for a deserving family in Jayapuram with funds raised by the troops of the Brigade. Mr. Sesunadan with his family members was leading a hand to mouth life when the troops donated this new house under the supervision of Brigadier B.K.G.M.L Rodrigo, 663 Brigade Commander. The project coincided with the 72nd Army Anniversary.
Meanwhile, troops of the 12 Division at Hambantota under the SFHQ-Central marked the Army day by hoisting of the Army Flag, singing of the Army Anthem, a two-minute silence in honour of all Fallen War Heroes, reading of the Army Commander's Message and planting of saplings in the compound.
Major General Prasanna Ranawaka, GOC 12 Division and Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks serving at the Headquarters premises joined the ceremony.
After the main ceremony troops planted 40 Kumbuk saplings around the banks of the Nagarawewa reservation areas. Senior Officers and Other Ranks joined hands together to mark the day’s programme.
In the meantime, the 62 Division troops under the SFHQ-Wanni marked the Army day by launching a project to plant some 2000 Kumbuk saplings along the catchment areas of the Padaviya tank on the guidelines given by the General Officer Commanding - 62 Division, Major General UpaliGunasekara. Brigadier Keerthi Parakun, Commander 621 Brigade, Major NimeshLiyanagama, Commanding Officer 14 (V) SLLI, M Raliyudeen, Divisional Secretary Padaviya, Mr K.R Herath, Residential Project Manager, Mahaweli L Zone, Dr S.P.B.S.A Shantha, Assistant Irrigation Engineer, Padaviya, Mr NC Dissanayeke, Wildlife Officer Padaviya, Mr L Manoharan, Forest Officer Padaviya and more than one hundred troops took part in the project.
Meanwhile, Security Force Headquarters - Wanni contributed its share on account of the 72nd Army Anniversary day on Sunday (10) by organizing a formal ceremony. Formalities included flag hoisting, one-minute silence, reading of the Commander’s Army Day’s Message and recital of the Army song, etc.
Those ceremonials were headed by Major General Champaka Ranasinghe, Commander, SF-W where both Officers and Other Ranks gathered together to listen to the Commander’s Message.
A new feature was introduced to the occasion by planting 72 saplings inside the camp complex in order to mark the anniversary.
Brigadier General Staff, SFHQ-W, All Officers, Other Ranks, and civil staffers serving the Headquarters participated in the anniversary commemoration event.
Similarly, in line with the celebration of 72nd Army Day, Headquarters of the 1 Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps organized a formal ceremony on the direction of the Commanding Officer, Major U.M.P Udukumara on 10th Oct 2021.
Commencing the formalities, the Army flag was hoisted and the event continued with the singing of the Army song, observing a two-minute silence to commemorate fallen War Heroes. The Adjutant presented the message of the Commander of the Army.
The Commanding Officer afterwards joined cleaning the Sirinanda Temple in Keselwatta with the participation of all Officers, Other Ranks and Civil staff of the 1 Sri Lanka Army Pioneer Corps.
Meanwhile, the 62 Division Headquarters marked the Army anniversary by singing of the Army song, observing a two-minute silence to commemorate fallen War Heroes before the GOC presented message of the Commander of the Army.
Commencing the formalities, the Army flag was hoisted and the event continued with the inauguration of the newly-renovated Corporals’ Club of the 62 Division. Further, a tree-planting programme was also conducted in the Headquarters premises with the participation of all Officers, Other Ranks and civil staff of the 62 Division.
Meanwhile, 6 Sri Lanka National Guard of the 682 Brigade under the 68 Division of the Security Force HQ - Mullaittivu distributed dry ration packs among needy families in the general area Nandikadal on 10 October to coincide with the 72nd Army anniversary.
In the meantime, troops of 18 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and 6 Sri Lanka National Guard distributed saplings among civilians in Thevipuram, Iranapalai, Mullivaikkal and Annandapuram areas.
Those projects were carried out with the blessings of the Mullaittivu Commander, and under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 68 Division and the Brigade Commander, 682 Brigade.
Meanwhile, troops of the 57 Division of the Security Force HQ - Mullaittvu on account of the Army Day (10 October) renovated the children's park at Visuwamadu and renovated the main entrance of the Visuwamadu Maha Vidyalaya as a community project.
Troops carried out this charity event on the directions of Major General Priyantha Jayawardene, General Officer Commanding, 57 Division and Brigadier Nishantha Muthumala, Commander, 572 Brigade.
Meanwhile, following instructions of the Commander, Security Forces - Mullaittivu, Major General Sisira Pilapitiya, the General Officer Commanding 57 Division Major General Pńyantha Jayawardane with his troops organized three separate religious programmes to invoke blessings on the 72nd Army anniversary ’on 10 October 2021.
Hindu ceremony was held at Kilinochchi Kandaswamy Kovil early in the morning and a special service at St Theresa Church began at 10.30 hrs. Similarly, the Buddhist religious observances at Kilinochchi Lumbini Temple got underway at dusk with the participation of limited troops adhering to health formalities.
Further, a tree-planting project was also organized by the 57 Division in the general area of Shanthipuram. In total, 25 Kumbuk saplings were planted.
Colonel General Staff, Colonel Administrative and Quartering of the 57 Division, Senior Officers and Division staff were present at those programmes.
Troops in the Army Logistic Command conducted a Shramadana campaign to clean the rural hospital at Salawa on account of the Army day on 10 October.
This programme was conducted under the directions of the Logistic Commander and under the supervision of the Brigadier Logistic Army Logistic Command.
Meanwhile, 21 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) troops of the 563 Brigade under the 56 Division on account of the Army Anniversary took an own initiative and donated a stock of 185 kg of rice to the St Anthony’s Church and Bethel Missionary Church in the general area of Vavuniya on 7 October 2021.
The stock was to be distributed among needy people in the most-affected areas with the support and coordination of the 563 Brigade Commander, Brigadier Panduka Perera.
Major General Laksisri Perera, General Officer Commanding, 56 Division gave his support for the project.
