The Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL), to produce fully-fledged potential peacekeepers for multidimensional UN assignments heralded the inauguration of several new projects that matches up with UN standards inside the complex on Wednesday (16) and gave a facelift to its infrastructure facilities with the participation of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) as the Chief Guest.

Chief Guest, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army was invited to mark the inauguration of the newly renovated main road to the IPSOTSL complex and named it as the ‘Peace Drive’. Next, was the unveiling of the new name board and a replica of an armour tank beside the main entrance to the IPSOTSL complex.

A colourful and customary drive-past salute was extended to Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as he proceeded. Afterwards the Chief Guest reached the administrative complex of the IPSOTSL in his motorcade, to be welcomed by Brigadier Shantha Ranaweera, Commandant, IPSOTSL and Director Operations - AHQ, flanked by a few Senior Officers and IPSOTSL Instructors.

He was at first invited to inaugurate several infrastructure constructions, inclusive of the Buddhist temple of worship, its shrine and unveiling of the new Buddha statue, amidst chanting of ‘Seth Pirith’ by members of the Maha Sangha. Adding one more essential component to the IPSOTSL, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva then opened the newly-erected Sports Complex in the institute, monumental Peace Tower that signifies the symbolic existence of this hallowed Institute, Indoor Badminton Court and the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess at the IPSOTSL before he left memories by planting a ‘Mee’ sapling in the compound.

In his formal address to IPSOTSL administrators and trainees, the day’s Chief Guest took time off to recall a few memories about his days as UN ambassador in New York and how he worked closely to multiply the Sri Lankan peacekeeping quota for UN peacekeeping deployments and committed to raise their salaries, perks and other facilities.

At the end of the troop address, the Army Chief gave away prizes and certificates to the first best five students who followed the UN Logistic Officers’ Course SL – 02 2020 at the IPSOTSL and extended his best wishes on their achievements. Symbolic of the meaning of peace, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva before the culmination of the proceedings was invited to set a pigeon free into the air on the same occasion.

Afterwards, Brigadier Shantha Ranaweera, Commandant, IPSOTSL and Director Operations - AHQ awarded a memento to the visiting Army Chief as a token of appreciation. Compliments were also left in the IPSOTSL visitors’ book by the Chief Guest signaling the culmination of the day’s sequence of inaugurations.

Senior Officers including, Major General Jayashantha Gamage, Military Secretary, Major General Pradeep De Silva, Director General General Staff, Major General Sanjaya Wanasingha, General Officer Commanding, 61 Division, Major General Rathnasiri Ganegoda, Director General Engineer Service, Brigadier Lasantha Rodrigo, Director Overseas Operations and Brigadier Chandana Wickremasinghe, Director Media and Military Spokesman attended the day’s proceedings.