13th March 2026 13:19:11 Hours
The Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers organized the Sapper Officers' Training Day on Wednesday, 11th March 2026 at the Regimental Centre, providing a structured platform for officers to enhance their physical readiness, professional standards, and awareness of health and leadership challenges, followed by the traditional Diners' Club in the evening.
The day commenced with a dynamic physical training session aimed at improving endurance, alertness, and team cohesion among officers. This was followed by drill training at the Parade Ground, where foot and sword drills were practised, reinforcing ceremonial excellence, discipline, and coordinated leadership.
An important knowledge-sharing session formed the academic component of the programme, featuring a lecture on "Common Communicable Diseases in Military Settings; Skin, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal and Sexually Transmitted Infections and their Prevention and Control" delivered by Major Chathura Dasanayake of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps. The session emphasized the responsibilities of officers in maintaining personal and collective health standards, ensuring operational readiness through effective disease prevention and control within military environments.
The evening Diners' Club was graced by Major General D K S K Dolage USP nps psc, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers. The event was further enriched by an inspiring lecture delivered by the Colonel Commandant, who spoke to Sapper Officers under the topic of "Sappers’ Way Forward." During the lecture, he highlighted the critical areas where young officers must gain knowledge and experience, while outlining the future trajectory of the modern Sri Lanka Army and the necessity for officers to acclimatize to evolving operational landscapes. At the conclusion of the lecture, the Colonel Commandant presented a copy of his publication, "Follow the Sapper," an illustrated history of the Royal Engineers.
The Sapper Officers' Training Day reaffirmed the Corps' commitment to continuous professional development, ethical leadership, and adaptability, ensuring its officers remain well-prepared to meet evolving operational and administrative demands with confidence, responsibility, and foresight.
