Military Honours Salute Late Colonel M.A.D.R Mangala During Final Journey

The military funeral of Colonel M.A.D.R Mangala RSP of the Gemunu Watch (GW), who had served the country for more than 28 years, took place Tuesday (13) evening at Kalutara Nagoda cemetery, amid a mammoth gathering of his military comrades and other mourners.

Retired Senior Officers, Principal Staff Officers, Senior Officers, Directors and other mourners were also there to salute the late officer as the dusk fell.

Troops in accordance with military traditions received the remains, presenting arms near the entrance to the cemetery before being placed in the gun carriage and draped it in the National flag. As the funeral procession reached the main entrance to the cemetery, a representative gathering of senior officers formally, received the coffin and began to inch its way towards the crematorium after all of them together with family members lined up behind the coffin.

The formal Special Part I Order, issued by the Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army was then read out to the mourners as the occasion turned solemn. Troops in conformity with military traditions, then saluted the deceased, presenting a symbolic gun salute, the highest tribute a military officer, could get in the event of his demise.

Minutes after the Last Post, the bugle call that sounded, indicating that the great soldier had now gone to his final rest, the remains were taken to the crematorium.

Seconds after that, Major General Swarna Bothota, Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army presented the bereaved family with decorations and medals Colonel M.A.D.R Mangala RSP had earned during his illustrious career, a general tradition in the armed forces.

The military funeral of late Colonel M.A.D.R Mangala was organized in coordination with Major General Chaminda Lamahewa, Colonel Commandant of the Gemunu Watch.

Late Colonel M.A.D.R Mangala during humanitarian operations performed a commendable role in the fight against LTTE terrorists in the North and East before May in the year 2009.

Here follows the Part 1 Order read out at the funeral;