‘Api Army’ forms new volunteer reserve:

Army volunteers to beef up nation development

Experts of a field can mitigate the intensities of disasters safe-guarding the country. The current trend is to form a volunteer reserve of professionals who will be called out for duty on requirement.

A major part of the development work is shouldered by the Army's volunteer forces as it is they who have civil engineers, technicians, masons, carpenters, plumbers in their organisation that formed the teams for construction work.

Going beyond these boundaries the Volunteers in their latest campaign ‘Api Army’ (we are Army) welcomes professionals of all fields to join their effort to form a volunteer reserve to serve the motherland.

The Volunteers need such experts from various fields to strengthen the development of the country.

Thus, Sri Lanka Army's Volunteers are in a better position to collect this professional reserve.

The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) is now enlisting professionals under the age of 55 and on completion of enlistment they will be commissioned as Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels accordingly.

With the Volunteer Force anyone can join the Army at any time with less restrictions and the country would benefit immensely. Today to man the demanding development of the country the Volunteer Forces are seeking more professionals from all segments of the society.

The Volunteer Force is opened for enthusiastic citizens from all social segments and professions who wish to extend their service to the nation while holding the prestige of volunteer forces.

Almost all the urban development projects are presently handled by army personnel and among them the majority consists from the volunteers - mainly the Engineering Services Regiment, known as ESR. Constructions at the new port at Hambantota, beautification works around the parliament area, reconstruction works in the Pettah are some of the major works of the Volunteers.

Moreover, the pavement stretching along Bauddhaloka Mawatha is another picturesque area in the city from the road near Thunmulla Junction. Driving from Rajagiriya, the pavements with chairs along the Diyawanna Lake enriches the panoramic view of the city. In the construction of the new Defence headquarters in Akuregoda the ESR plays a major role.

It is General Sir John Kotelawala who donated land of his Kandawela Estate to set up the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy for the training of young Officer Cadets. He was also a gracious member of the Volunteer Force.

Those who join the Volunteers become members of an esteemed line of citizens starting from Sri Lanka's First Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake who served in the Volunteer Artillery as an active member for many years.Major E.A. Nugawela of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers was the Minister for Education in the first Cabinet of independent Sri Lanka.

The first Commanding Officer of the third Volunteer Battalion the Gemunu Watch, Colonel C.A. Dharmapala was a Member of Parliament and later became the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Security Advisor to the President during 1977-1979. Major Montague Jayawickrama, who was the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Plantations and Captain C.P.J. Senevirathne, who was the Labour Minister during 1977-1983 were active members of the second Volunteer Ceylon Light Infantry and Ceylon Cadet Corps respectively. General Ranjan Wijerathne who revived the Planters' Rifle Corps was the Deputy Minister of Defence during 1989-1992. General Anuruddha Ratwatte, former deputy Defence Minister was a member of the second volunteers of the Sinha Regiment.

New chapter

Today in the Volunteer Force 15 medical doctors, 88 civil and mechanical engineers, 20 legal officers, 19 accountants, 10 agriculture officers, 10 physiotherapists and 30 English instructors are serving. In addition seven University academics who joined the Volunteer Force are now serving in the Kotelawala Defence University.

Professionals those who are sound in the fields of medicine, engineering, accountancy, agriculture, languages, hospitality, event management and technology are now absorbed into the system.

"We need professional people to deal with the new situations that the country is facing," said Commander of the Volunteer Force Major General Lalith Daulagala.

Is this just bringing back the glorious past in to the volunteer force or is it a new chapter, we asked the Commander of the Volunteers. "It is a mixture of both, I would say. The requirements of the country would be the first priority and in the same time the Volunteer Force need to be strengthened to support the capability of the Army to serve the country at any given time," Maj. Gen. Daulagala said.

According to him especially the doctors and surgeons who are enlisted will be serving in the newly opened Army Hospital based on a roster. "The recruitment is continuing and there are more batches lined up for interviews," he said.

With the blessings of the Commander-in-Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa and secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa the Volunteer Forces are heading a new direction under the leadership of present Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake.

This is like creating a pool of professionals. The Army has been given the responsibilities at calamities in the country.

And we need to be ready not only with man-power but with expertise knowledge as well. This is the effort in making that a reality," Maj. Gen. Daulagala said.