20th February 2022 17:51:03 Hours
Thirteen officers and hundred and forty four soldiers, belong to Commando Courses 48- D & E batches received their prestigious insignia on Saturday (19) at Uva-Kuda Oya Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS) during a glamorous military ceremony. General LHSC Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army graced the Commando graduation ceremony as the Chief Guest.
The Passing Out Parade (POP), coloured with pinning of commando badges, awarding of maroon berets and live and exciting displays of advanced combat skills such as sniper demonstrations, Man vs Man Shooting demonstrations, Firing demonstrations, Hostage Rescue and Counter Terrorist demonstrations, K9 Handling displays, VIP Protection demonstrations, Display of Commando Real Fighting, Free Fall Parachute Display etc.
Major General AKGKU Gnanarathne ndu psc, Colonel of the Regiment, Commando Regiment , along with Colonel P S J D Samarasekara RSP USP psc, Commandant of CRTS extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest on arrival and awarded Guard Turnout at the entrance to the premises. Guard of Honour awarded to the chief guest on his arrival to parade ground by passing out Commandos.
As most emotional event of the event is pinning of the Commando Badges by parents and next of kin of the graduates. As most significant event of the day, Maroon berate was awarded by General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army to the passing out parade together with senior most commando officers, Major General Krishantha Gnanaratne, Colonel of Regiment, CR & General Officer Commanding of 14 Infantry Division, and Major General Anil Samarasiri, General Officer Commanding of 65 Infantry Division to those Officers and Other Ranks as symbols of their proud and prestigious identity.
Special awards were awarded for both Best Commando student of the course and the Best Shot to Lieutenant T M C M B Thennakoon and the award for the Best in Physical was awarded to Second Lieutenant C L Jayathunga. At the end the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who had also served as Colonel of the Regiment in Commando Regiment addressed the gathering and offered his best wishes to all new Commando graduates. Further he stressed that “it is not an easy task to be a Commando for it needs sustained courage and enthusiasm under “Nothing Impossible” motto of the Commandos as all of you have by now embraced in your hearts and as protectors of the nation we should always do better things for the sake of the motherland under this bold theme. And also remember you are just entering a start of a new journey after comprehensive training by further enhancing your skill, despite Challengers,” In a fatherly note, the Commander appealed them to pursue their career with the highest standards of discipline and commitment.
During the speech the Commander of the Army valued the correct decision of the parents of those graduates and profusely thanked them for a noble decision taken at the right moment. He also paid a special tribute to the Colonel of the Regiment, Commando Regiment, Brigade Commander, Center Commandant, Commandant, CRTS and all instructors for their contribution towards grooming of those special soldiers on behalf of the motherland.
With the termination of the parade formalities General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army accompany and opened the Commando Training School Multi Sport Complex which includes Memorial Indoor Gymnasium and Power Gymnasium under the respective names of Late Major General PP Frenando RWP RSP psc (Senior most Commando officer who killed in action) and Late Major G S Jayanath PWV (First Commando Officer to award PWV). On the same occasion the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army opened the Wall of Fame of Airborne family.
Major General H LV M Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Chief Of Staff, Major general T J Kodithuwakku, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General C D Weerasuriya RWP RSP ndu, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Major General H P Ranasinghe RWP RSP ndc Commander, 1 Corps, Major General Krishantha Gnanaratne, Colonel of Regiment, CR & General Officer Commanding of 14 Infantry Division, senior military officers, officers, other ranks, parents and invitees attended the Commandos Graduation Ceremony at Commando Regiment Training School - Kuda Oya.
