66th Birth Anniversary Commemoration of the Army Begins in Kandy
இலங்கைப் படையினர் ஒழுக்கத்துடன் செயற்படுபவர்கள் என இராணுவத் தளபதி லெப்டினன் ஜெனரல் கிருஸாந்த டி சில்வா தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இலங்கை இராணுவப்படையினர் தொழில்சார் தன்மையுடனும் ஒழுக்கத்துடன் செயற்பட்டு வருவதாகக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். கண்டி தலதா மாளிகையில் வழிபாடுகளில் ஈடுபட்ட போது அவர் இதனைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இலங்கை இராணுவத்தினர் தொடர்ந்தும் ஒழுக்கத்துடன் செயற்படுவார்கள் என அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.
இராணுவத்தின் 66ம் ஆண்டு பூர்த்தி நிகழ்வுகள் எதிர்வரும் மாதம் நடைபெறவுள்ளமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. கண்டிக்கு நேற்று விஜயம் செய்த அவர், இலங்கையின் இராணுவத்தை தொடர்ந்தும் ஒழுக்கமுள்ள அமைப்பாக செயற்படுத்தவுள்ளதாக அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். இலங்கை இராணுவத்தின் 66வது வருடநிறைவு அடுத்த மாதத்தில் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. சிலர் மேற்கொண்ட செயல்களை கொண்டு வெளியான மனித உரிமைமீறல் அறிக்கை காரணமாக இராணுவத்தின் உண்மை உருவம் மூடப்பட்டதாகவும் இராணுவத்தளபதி தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
The formal inaugural ceremony for commemoration of the forthcoming 66th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army (October 10), the most admired and respected organization in the country, well recognized as the ‘Defenders of the Nation’, got underway on Monday (28) at the sacred city of Kandy with offer of Buddha Pooja and alms to 66 Buddhist monks in the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth) where the most sacred relics, sharreerika, paribhogika and uddesika as living monuments of the Buddha and his disciples, remain enshrined for veneration. Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army as the main protagonist in the anniversary ceremonies arrived sharp at 9.45 a.m. to be received by Major General Jagath Dias, Chief of Staff, together with Major General E.M.M Ambanpola, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Channa Goonetilleke, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General Mahinda
Hathurusinghe, Adjutant General, Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Military Secretary, Major General Mano Perera, Commander, ARTRAC, Major General Sumedha Perera, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - Central, Major General D.S.N.K Senadheera, General Officer Commanding, 11 Division and a representative gathering of other senior officers. A tray of jasmine flowers, coupled with the traditional offer of ‘Muruthen’ and ‘Gilanpasa’ Buddha poojas was then offered to the inner chamber of the Sri Dalada Maligawa by the Commander before religious observances were performed, amid beating of traditional drums (shabdha pooja). Soon after those traditional rites and rituals of the daily Thewawa were over, the Commander on behalf of all in the
Army, donated a symbolic memento to the Sri Dalada Maligawa at the Diyawadana Nilame’s office on account of the event. Monday (28) morning’s second segment in the commencement of anniversary programmes saw 66 Buddhist monks, led by Most Ven. Dr Niyangoda Vijitha Thero, Anunayake Thero of the Malwatte Chapter and Most Ven. Warakawe Gnanarathana Thero of the Asgiri Chapter partake of the alms (Daana), offered by representatives of the Army at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises. Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva together with other senior officers present after religious observances, began serving alms to the monks and listened afterwards to the Anusasanas (orations) of the monks who invoked blessings on the organization and spoke high of Army achievements for the betterment of the country. The day’s second highlight began soon after troops attending Kandy ceremonies formed up near the main gate to the Sri Dalada Maligawa with all Army flags, held in their hands as arrangements were set to conduct the symbolic Flag Blessing ceremony inside the inner chambers. Colourful Army Flags,
including the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, all Security Force Headquarters, Divisions, Brigades, Schools, Training Centres and Regiments across the country that symbolize the living memory, dignity of the organization and all the members that serve it, took the centre stage of attraction after those flags were respectfully taken in procession to the upper chamber and the Pathirippuwa (octagon) by representative officers of each unit while the Commander, carried the Army Flag for invocation of blessings before they were delivered to the monks in charge of the
Thewawa. Chanting of Seth Pirith and conduct of religious observances afterwards at the new of the Sri Dalada Maligawa precincts brought Monday’s (28) inaugural religious ceremonies to an end. Meanwhile, the Gilanpasa Pooja at the Sri Dalada Maligawa on Sunday (27) night was patronized by the troops serving the 11 Division Headquarters, commanded by Major General D.S.N.K Senadheera, General Officer Commanding, 11 Division. Hundreds of officers and other rankers took part in the ceremony.