Every step a Sandhurst
Every Lankan officer cadet is trained in the best way to maintain the
military traditions of Sandhurst. Sunday Observer staffer, Ananth Palakidnar
was at hand to view the Commissioning Parade Regular intakes 57, SC 12 and
Volunteer Intake 41 at the country's foremost Military Academy in Diyatalawa
last week.
The cold breeze wafting, the hills provided the ideal climate for eighty
new officer cadets who successfully completed their course and stood in
perfect stature for their Commissioning parade at the picturesque Military
Academy grounds in Diyatalawa on June 25, 2005.
The Diyatalawa Military Academy, situated in an area of around 3000 acres
has a long history dating back from the early part of the 20th century as
one of the prominent and foremost military training institutions in South
Asia.
Several years ago,many of the Sri Lankan cadets had the privilege of
being trained in Sandhurst.But now it has been limited to a few. However,
the training and traditions adopted at the Military Academy in Diyatalawa
are very similar to those at Sandhurst.
Diyatalawa came into prominence as a military garrison area,when a camp
was opened by the British rulers to keep around 5000 prisoners of Boer War.
They were brought from South Africa in the early part of the twentieth
century.
Several of them were sent back to South Africa on taking their oath of
allegiance to the British Crown. The many who did not return were interred
at the cemetery in Diyatalawa. This is a monument to their memory, and still
stands there to this day. So this cemetery of the Boer prisoners also made
the residents of Diyatalawa to call it a `ghost' city.
Following the formation of the Ceylon Army on October 10, 1949, the
military area in Diyatalawa was the obvious choice for training personnel
for the fledging Army of independent Sri Lanka. The Diyatalawa Military
training Academy was ceremonially inaugurated by the first Sri Lankan Prime
Minister, D. S. Senanayake on February 6th, 1950.
Since then, more than seven thousand officers and soldiers of various
other ranks and file have passed out from the Diyatalawa Military Academy
which falls very much in line with the patterns of the prestigious Sandhurst
Military Academy of the United Kingdom.
During the early stages of the Diyatalawa Military Academy, Sri Lankans
of all races from all regions had the rare privilege of training themselves
under the British instructors.
Three decades ago, the Sri Lankan Army were very much a ceremonial
outfit, and the recruitment for officer-cadets was made from boys who
attended elitist schools, and also depended on family backgrounds.
However, due to the two decades of internal conflict, the army has grown
to almost fifty times its original strength and has been provided with
sophisticated weaponry and equipment.
It was a challenge for the Diyatalawa Military Academy to meet the demand
of producing more and more officers and soldiers to face the battles in the
North and East in the past two decades. Despite,these challenges the
Military Academy in Diyatalawa, remained a solid breeding ground of good
soldiering in Sri Lanka.
The Commandant of the Diyatalawa Military Academy, Brigadier Mendaka
Samarasinghe says "whether it is war or peace, the Diyatalawa Academy
remains the same, and our aim is to produce good officers and gentle-men to
serve the country".
The pavilion at the main parade grounds at Diyatalawa was packed with the
family members of the new officer cadets. The front rows were occupied by
foreign military dignitaries, in their well-decorated military attire.
When the new officer cadets marched onto the parade grounds, they held
the audience spellbound. The cadets were at their military best, in their
ceremonial attire.
Sri Lanka Army band in attendance played lilting music that was rich in
combination, with popular local songs and vibrant English march tunes such
as 'The Liberty Bell', and 'The Washington Post'. It was an emotional moment
for parents and kith and kin, some of whom were in tears when they made the
standing ovation, when the young officers marched past them.
Commandant Brig. Mendaka Samarasinghe said that four different courses
were conducted at the Diyatalawa Academy.
The Regular officer cadet's long course is conducted for two and a half
years with a Degree conferred by the Sabaragamuwa University which is
affiliated to the Diyatalawa Military Academy. The second course is for the
Kotalawala Defence Academy students who undergo a one year training in
Diyatalawa, after they complete their two years of initial military studies.
The third is a one year course for Volunteer officer cadets while the
other is a regular short course for one and a half years.
Apart from the above courses, a one year course for Women officer cadets,
and the direct enlisted course of three months for professionals such as
engineers, doctors, lawyers, and accountants who have joined the army are
also conducted in Diyatalawa, according to Commandant Brig. Samarasinghe.
Capt J. Yapa, who is one of the drill instructors trained in the United
kingdom as well as in India and Pakistan military institutions, is proud of
Diyatalawa and says, that the Military Academy has produced several
excellent officers who have displayed marvellous soldiering ability in and
out of the battle fronts in the North and East in the past.
On June 25, 2005, the well fortified Diyatalawa Military Academy saw an
influx of not only families and friends of the newly commissioned officers,
but also family members of the senior officers who have been serving in
Diyatalawa as well as in various parts of the country.
The Commissioning Parade came to an end with the new officer cadets
obtaining their swords and the ones who excelled in various study programmes
receiving their prizes from the Chief Guest, Minister Ratnasiri
Wickramanayake, who was accompanied by the Army Commander Lt. General
Shantha Kottagoda and the Commandant Brigadier Mendaka Samarasinghe.
'Makara Thorana', the arch way at the rear of the parade grounds, was the
final attraction and when the music 'Auld Lang Syne' was played the newly
Commissioned officers marched through the arch ascending steps to start
their career in the Sri Lankan Army.
"The Military Academy in Diyatalawa is not only particular in producing
officers who are good at defending the country, but also mould them to
gentlemen with sterling qualities", Commandant Samarasinghe said. The beat
of the drums of the Commissioning Parade on June 25,which echoed through the
serene hills of Diyatalawa endorsed the words of the Commandant.
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