Island-wide Establishments Join 74th Army Anniversary Celebrations

Coincident with the 74th Army Anniversary, island-wide Army establishments customarily joined the anniversary celebrations arranging simple and brief occasions at each formation on the anniversary day (10 Oct) according to the guidelines provided by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army.

Accordingly, troops serving under the Security Force HQ - Mullaittivu (SF-MLT) joined the celebrations under the guidance of Major General M.K Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu, Commander, SF-MLT. Brigadier Admin and Quartering at the SFHQ-MLT hoisted the SF-MLT flag and troops joined reciting the Army anthem. General Staff Officer 1 at SFHQ-MLT read the anniversary message of the Commander of the Army and an All Rank lunch culminated the day’s agenda.

At the same time, 11 Infantry Division at Pallekele celebrated the 74th Army anniversary with the participation of Major General R.M.M Ranasinghe WWV RWP RSP, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 11 Infantry Division. GOC hoisted the Central flag and troops recited the Army anthem. In addition, troops launched a tree planting programme before an All-Rank lunch concluded the day's arrangements.

In the meantime, 61 Infantry Division added its share to the anniversary celebrations during a simple occasion with the presence of Major General R.A.J.N Ranasinghe RSP USP ndc, the General Officer Commanding, 61 Infantry Division. The flag was hoisted before the Army anthem was recited by the troops and a coconut sapling was planted in the compound. An All-Rank lunch culminated the day’s event.

At each location troops were facilitated to watch the Army Day Parade at Panagoda Sri Lanka Light infantry Regimental HQ ground. Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks at each location took part in those programmes.

At the sometime, 52 Infantry Division troops of the Security Force HQ - Jaffna on account of 74th Army Anniversary organized two community projects in the area under the guidance of Major General Y.A.B.M Yahampath RWP RSP ndu psc, General Officer Commanding, 52 Infantry Division and Brigadier W.L.A.C Perera RWP RSP USP, Deputy Commander of the 52 Infantry Division.

Accordingly, a nutritious lunch was served to 35 individuals with special needs residing in the Yal Visually-Impaired Association in Kaithady on Sunday (08 Oct). The following day (09 Oct), 40 dedicated soldiers in a 'Shramadana' campaign cleaned the Mirusuvil Divisional Hospital and its surrounding premises.

Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks participated in both those community programmes.

Meanwhile, troops attached to the 521 Brigade of the 52 Infantry Division with members of the hospital staff conducted another community-oriented cleaning programme at Manthikai Hospital premises in Point Pedro on 10th October 2023 to coincide with the 74th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army.

Under the guidelines of Colonel M.H.R Fernando RWP RSP USP, Brigade Commander of the 521 Infantry Brigade, this task was carried out.

Likewise, 553 Infantry Brigade troops of the Security Force HQ - Jaffna in a touching display of compassion and dedication, celebrated the 74th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army with a series of community projects in Visuamadu area under the guidance of Brigadier J.S.K Perera RSP, Commander of the 553 Infantry Brigade.

On the anniversary day (10 Oct), troops of the 553 Infantry Brigade and 6 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment provided meals to Namachivaya Elders’ Home in Tharmapuram. In another heart-warming act of benevolence, troops of the 14 Sri Lanka National Guard offered a delightful lunch for children at the Theravil Kanoji pre-school. Senior Officers, Officers and Other Ranks also took part in those events.

Similarly, 7 Sri Lanka Artillery (7 SLA), a part of the 231 Infantry Brigade in the 23 Infantry Division of the Security Force Headquarters - East, organized a community-focused initiative on Tuesday (10 October).

This event, led by the 7 SLA in collaboration with the Civil Affairs Officer of the 231 Infantry Brigade and the Second in Command of the 7 SLA, aimed to mark this significant milestone in the history of the Sri Lanka Army provided breakfast and lunch to underprivileged women at Minihiri Women's Rescue Center in Hingurakgoda, along with a musical entertainment. A free distribution of essential items followed.

Similarly, troops serving under the Forward Maintenance Area (FMA) North-Central) conducted a ‘Shramadanaya’ programme inside the ‘Daya Aramaya’ at Anuradhapura on account of the 74th Army anniversary.

Commander of the FMA - North Central provided the much-needed guidance to the project.

In the meantime, 2 Sri Lanka National Guard (2 SLNG) troops under the 552 Infantry Brigade of the 55 Infantry Division to coincide with the 74th Anniversary of the Army, organized a special seminar for Grade 5 students siting for the upcoming scholarship examination.

The guidance and supervision of the General Officer Commanding, 55 Infantry Division and the Brigade Commander of 552 Infantry Brigade enabled the special seminar that benefited 253 students. At the end of the programme, a delicious lunch was served to all of them.

Similarly, 11 Sri Lanka Engineers and 7 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) troops of the 523 Infantry Brigade organized a coconut sapling distribution event on Tuesday (10 October) under the guidance of the Commander, 523 Infantry Brigade on account of the 74th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army.

This initiative saw the distribution of 100 coconut saplings to low-income families with the noble objective of enhancing the quality of life for these communities.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) joined 74th Army Anniversary Celebrations under the guidance of Major General U.D Wijesekera RWP RSP USP rcds psc, SLAVF Commandant under the close supervision of Major General M.T.K.R Silva KSP, SLAVF Deputy Commandant

At first, the flag hoisting ceremony got underway and troops recited the Army anthem before the anniversary message of the Commander of the Army was read out in front of the audience. Afterwards, troops participated in a Bodhi Pooja ceremony before joining a tree planting programme in the compound.

On the same occasion, a group of SLAVF Officers and Other Ranks who were promoted earlier by the Commander of the Army, symbolically received their new rank insignia from the SLAVF Commandant. An All-Rank lunch on the same afternoon culminated the day’s agenda.

Moreover, 50 troops of the 2 (V) Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) of the 144 Infantry Brigade under the 14 Infantry Division under the Security Force HQ - West arranged a cleaning programme to clear the surroundings of the historic Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya compound to coincide with the 74th Army Anniversary celebrations.

Commanding Officer of the 2 (V) SLLI closely supervised the community project.

Meanwhile, to coincide with the 74th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Army on 10th October 2023, the Army troops serving under the 1 Corps -Killinochchi, joined the celebrations under the guidance of Major General S.B Amunugama RWP RSP ndu, Commander, 1 Corps who hoisted the Army flag. Troops recited the Army anthem.

In addition, the Army troops launched a tree planting programme before an All-Rank lunch concluded the day’s arrangements.

At the same time, a lunch treat was offered to 14 inmates at Nirmala Matha Adult's Home located in Puttalam on 10th October 2023 under the guidance and supervision of Major General H.D.W.K.N Eriyagama RWP RSP, General Officer Commanding of the 58 Infantry Division in parallel with the 74th Army day anniversary.

The event culminated with a distribution of some essential items and clothes among those residents. In addition, they were also entertained to Calypso band music.