COMMANDOS CELEBRATED THEIR 44TH ANNIVERSARY

To commemorate the Commando Regiment's 44th anniversary, a series of functions have been conducted at the Regimental Center in Ganemulla. As an initiation of these series of functions, the Pirith chanting ceremony and almsgiving ceremony were held at the Ganemulla camp premises on 11th and 12th March 2024. The colorful traditional cultural Perahara commenced in front of the main entrance of the Headquarters Commando Brigade prior to the pirith chanting ceremony, and it ended in front of the Regimental Headquarters building on 11th March 2024.

The alms-giving, in which alms were offered to 25 monks, was held on 12th March at the Commando Regimental Centre Lecture Hall in the presence of Colonel of the Regiment Commando Regiment Major General PGPS Rathnayaka RWP RSP ndc, Major General KHMS Wickramaratne RSP, Brigadier BMSKK Dharmawardena RWP RSP USP Regimental Centre Commandant, and Brigadier KVIL Jayaweera USP Commander Commando Brigade. Subsequently, a floral tribute was held at the Commando War Memorial in memory of the fallen 732 Commandos who sacrificed their invaluable lives in the name of the motherland. Close family members and relatives of the fallen Commando war heroes attended the events conducted on 12th March 2024.

Thereafter, on 15 March 2024 guard turnout was given to the Colonel of the Regiment Commando Regiment Major General PGPS Rathnayaka RWP RSP ndc at the main gate of the regimental center. After that, Major General PGPS Rathnayaka RWP RSP ndc has inspected the guard of honour which was organized at the Commando regimental center parade ground. Subsequently, on this special day a newly constructed B guardroom was opened, and a refurbished private’s mess was reopened for the privates of the camp. After that, all were gathered to witness the final tug of war competition, which was organized by the Commando Brigade at the regimental center playground. To reward the commandos who achieved 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in both the foreign and local courses, prize giving was organized by the regimental center at the poolside in B camp premises. Additionally, S/Cdo 558904 L/Cpl Lasantha MPM from 3 CR was awarded the best shooter trophy at the prize-giving ceremony. O/70819 Lt (QM) KM Nalinda Kumara RSP USP from 3 CR was awarded the best physical award, while 1 CR was awarded as the best commando battalion in 2024. After the prize-giving ceremony, all rank lunch was organized at the same venue.

On the same day, first time of the Commando history the officer’s get-together was organized at the officer's mess, with both serving and retired officers, including the father of Commando Lt Col SD Peiris (Retd) USP psc, and several retired senior officers.