5TH CCC CONTINGENT IN MINUSMA SALUTES ARMY CHIEF

After a Guard Turnout at the entrance, Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardana RWP RSP ndu, Colonel of the Regiment, SLSR and Quarter Master General at the Army HQ warmly welcomed the comd of the Army.

Adding symbolic importance to the Sri Lanka Army’s UN assignment, the day’s Chief Guest customarily handed over the National flag, United Nations flag, Army flag, and the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment flag to Mali-bound Contingent Commander of the 5th Combat Convoy Company (CCC) as, denoting that their preparations for the UN mission are now complete and ready to undertake responsibilities.

The contingent of 5th CCC, commanded by Colonel W.W.N.P Wickramarachchi of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and the Second in Command, Major M.A.D Bandaranayake of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps is composed of 243 Army personnel, including 20 Officers and 223 Other Ranks. The majority in the contingent is made up of SLSR troops.

The Army Chief soon after the ceremonial parade addressed the CCC highlighting the significance of the overseas assignment to the Army and Sri Lanka in general and appealed all Mali-bound troops to maintain high standards of discipline and bring much-needed foreign exchange home as a national concern.

After the Commander’s speech, all the contingent members and invitees joined a customary All Rank tea where the Commander of the Army interacted with the troops and their families and shared few thoughts with them.

Major General W.A.S.S Wanasinghe RSP VSV USP ndu, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General D.M.K.D.B Pussella RWP RSP, Commander Security Force Headquarters West, Major General S.P.A.I.M.B Samarakoon Hdmc Lsc, Commander, Army Logistic Command, Major General W.M.R.W.W.H.J.B Wanigasekara VSV USP, Master General Ordnance, Major General K.P.S.A Fernando RWP RSP ndu, Director General Infantry, Major General S.R.B Aluvihare RWP RSP ndu psc, Adjutant General, Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc, Director General General Staff, several other Senior Officers, Officers, Other Ranks and next of kin of the contingent members participated in the event.