SLAVF enlistment drive, a success

By Irangika Range

For the first time in the history of Sri Lankan Army, 17 women professionals from private and state sector institutions were enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) Reserve recently.

They will be summoned to active service when required in times of natural disasters, other emergency situations and routine development activities.

The enlistment drive had been named Api Army (We are Army) initiated for the purpose of tapping the expertise of professionals so that the SLAVF is ready to face any emergency including natural disasters and catastrophes.

Their services are also expected to speed up the ongoing development drive, SLAVF Regimental Commandant Major General Lalith Daulagala said.

The SLAVF has already enlisted one batch of 44 professionals. This is the second batch and it comprises 30 male and 17 female doctors, managing directors and CEOs, engineers and chartered engineers, petroleum storage officers, architects, draftsmen, quantity surveyors, scientists, land surveyors, attorneys-at-law, agricultural officers, ayurveda doctors, veterinary surgeons, media officers, custom officers, lecturers, businessmen and cultural officers who are in the executive grade in government and private sectors.

They would be provided a non-combatant training at the Diyatalawa Volunteer Force Training School and after their commissioning they are ready to serve the country whenever they are summoned just like in the case of reserve forces in many other countries,” he said.

The Commandant said it has been a long drought for professionals enlistment to the Sri Lanka Army.

The concept of volunteerism sounds novel in the Sri Lanka Army in today’s context. But, it had been in high frequency in the past.

The SLAVF had a lot of great men in the past. It brings pride to say that I am a member of the SLAVF,” he said.

A large number of valiant men of our nation served in the SLAVF, including the country's first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. Among the other key persons were former Prime Minister General Sir John Kotalawala, General Ranjan Wijeratne, Major Montague Jayawickrama, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, Major E.A. Nugawela and Col. C.A. Dharmapala.

The SLAVF with its reputed history of over 132 years, is to be further flanked with more professionals from public and private sectors after revitalising its voluntary reserve.

The Commandant in addition, highlighted the need for the re-introduction of former recruitment procedures to the SLAVF.

As in the past, only skilled professionals with expertise and exceptional abilities could be enlisted to the Volunteer Force, through which the Army can make use of their resources to the best interest of the organisation since the priorities and national goals change as the country faces multiple development projects, he pointed out.

SLAVF contributed in making the motherland victorious in a war that lasted for nearly 30 years. Now the need of the time is different.

“We need a solid force of professionals. We need their expertise to develop this country through the SLAVF,” he said.

The Major General said: “Today, Sri Lanka is one of the most peaceful and stable countries. It is a country in which we saw a colossal amount of damage and devastation in all spheres of our society due to terrorism. However, all can witness today that our country is gradually rising out of troubles.”“We are in the midst of a national restoration process where support and contribution of citizens in diverse field of expertise are of great significance. We have a dire need of professionals to contribute to development with the conclusion of the war,” he said.

“I am confident that knowledge and experience of these professionals would directly contribute in achieving the millennium development objectives of the nation,” he said.

The Major General stressed that records confirm that no other powerful Army in the world had been able to defeat terrorism except Malaysia. Sri Lanka's name goes into the chronicles as a nation which defeated terrorism and brought resounding victory. Having accomplished the mission, the Army at present extends its contribution to the development drive in the country.

Major General Daulagala said this program initiated with the blessings of Commander-in-Chief President Mahinda Rajapaksa and under the guidance of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is supervised by Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake.

The orientation program of the second batch of professionals who enlisted in the SLAVF Reserve commenced at the Diyatalawa Volunteer Force Training School recently. He further said that the first batch that comprised 44 male professionals have passed out as officer cadets. They are ready to serve the country, whenever we summon them. They would be called for the duty as the need arises. As we had not enlisted female professionals in the first batch we gave priority to enroll them in the second batch.

Our objective is to provide equal opportunities for both female and male professionals. We hope to obtain the expertise, skills and talents of those female professionals for the benefit of the country.

The orientation program would help them develop discipline, team spirit and guidance necessary to move forward,” he said.

The four week orientation program was designed to make the professionals aware of basic military activities including organisation, military procedures, regulations and activities related to individual and collective training with different technical approaches. Thereafter, they will be ready to serve anytime when the need arises, he said.

Several women professionals of the second batch expressed their views and explained why they joined the SLAVF reserve.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Deputy Director General-(programs) Mayuri Abeysinghe, who herself had enlisted as a professional said: “I think I got a great opportunity to improve discipline, efficiency and time management skills. I consider this opportunity to serve the country in a different field as an honour.

The media personnel supported the war against terrorism. “The ongoing development effort is equally important. I think by joining the Army I am in a better position to serve my country. I am ready to make use of the years of experience to serve in the Army with regard to the development drive. I am happy I received this opportunity,” said Mayuri.

Well-known actress Ratnasheela Perera said: “We have talents and skills in organising drama and performance workshops which could help people to develop their skills of singing, playing instruments and performance arts.

These aspects are needed for meaningful past times and they pave for creativity. It is my aim to serve the country by making use of the talents that I have.

Ayurvedic Doctors H.A.C. Manori and F.Thilakaratne said: “”We think that our profession too could help the SLAVF's objective of serving the nation. This is a time we need the service of professionals. There are many war heroes who had become disabled during the time of conflict. It is our intention to help them and participate in their rehabilitation programs. I think we could contribute our doctoral skills and expertise to help those disabled soldiers re-integrate to society,” they said.

Attorney-at–law in Colombo High Court Chamani Sri Vijayananda said, “I am a lawyer by profession. I would get the opportunity to help the Army in their legal matters. I would give consultations and strengthen the legal department of the Army.

Mahaweli National College of Education in Polgolla. Senior Lecturer Kanthi Liyanage said: “When we move forward as a nation, it is essential that we should improve our language skills. I hope to contribute my services to improve the English skills of Army personnel.

I think I could make use of my counselling, research and lecturing skills to help them further their knowledge so that they would be on par with the rest of the world,” she said.