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| Sunday, 12 October 2003 |
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54th anniversary celebrations of the Army : Commander commends fallen heroes by Ramani Kangaraarachchi Army Commander Lt General Lionel Balagalla gave an assurance that the disabled soldiers and families of soldiers killed in action will be looked after continuously. He said so addressing the troops on parade at the 54th Army anniversary celebrations at the Army Grounds on Friday. Thanking the officers and soldiers for the valuable services rendered by them to the country, he made special mention of the sacrifices made by a large number of soldiers during the past 20 years. He said, "We enjoy peace after 20 years because of the sacrifices made by them and they will not be forgotten". Two minutes' silence was observed to honour the fallen heroes. The Army Commander along with Mrs. Balagalla visited patients at the Army Hospital and distributed gift parcels after the parade. The anniversary celebrations began with flag blessing ceremony at Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi on the first of this month where 214 flags were blessed. Chief of Staff, Major General Lohan Gunawardena, graced Hindu, Islamic and Christian religious services held at Captain Gardens Hindu Kovil, Devatagaha Mosque and St. Joseph's College Chapel on the 6th, 7th and 8th. Anniversary celebrations concluded yesterday with an all-night pirith ceremony followed by an almsgiving at Panagoda Bodhirajaramaya. The Sri Lanka Army was officially formed on October 10, 1949 after Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948. Brigadier the Earl of Caithness, CBE, was appointed the first Commander of the Army. |
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