We must be able to win the hearts and minds of civilians - Army Commander

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Government has decided to add the hard lying allowance to the salaries of all personnel of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from November onwards, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said during a dinner hosted for all ranks in the Army at Anuradhapura Farm Garden Village Hotel late last Friday (06). Previously, the hard lying allowance was paid only to SLA personnel in operational areas.

Though the war is over it is the prime duty of the Sri Lanka Army to help the Government departments engaged in re-settlement of the Internally Displaced Persons, Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya said.

"We must be able to win the hearts and minds of civilians and safeguard their dignity while performing our duties. You all must preserve the dignity of the Army at all times," he said.Over 1000 other ranks representing all regiments of the Army attended the occasion which was arranged on an initiative of the Army Commander as a symbolic gesture of goodwill to the contributions extended by other ranks to the successful 60th anniversary celebrations of SLA. Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe Chief of Staff received the Commander on his arrival at the hotel.

Assuring his commitment in ensuring the continuation of the welfare facilities to Army personnel, Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya told Army personnel that it is essential to make the Army a full-pledged organisation in all aspects.