LARGE CROWDS THRONG FIRST DAY OF VESAK ZONE IN DIYATALAWA

With spectacular decorations being displayed in the area, which attracted thousands of locals and visitors who flock to Diyatalawa, the Vesak Zone - 2016, organized by the Officers and soldiers serving Security Force Headquarters (Central), its affiliated and log units and other military establishments within the garrison, in coordination with Air Force, Police Station Diyatalawa, and Divisional Secretariat- Haputale, which elaborated Vesak arrangements on account of the Thrice Blessed Day, was declared open by Commander Security Force (Central), Major General A P de Z Wickramaratne RWP ndu psc on 21 May 2016 at Muthukumaru Grounds - Diyatalawa.

The event of the opening of the Vesak Zone was also attended by Divisional Secretariat - Haputale Mr. KBAMS Abekoon, Major General K J Alwis RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc, Commander Sri Lanka Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Major General R W W A D B Rajaguru RWP RSP USP ndc psc, Commandant Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) together with a large number of officers. After lighting the traditional oil lamp, SF Commander symbolically switched on the lanterns.

Garrison - based Army troops, representing ARTRAC, SF HQ (Central), SLMA, Marksmanship and Sniper Training School (MSTS), 7th Regiment of Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC), 1 Gemunu Watch (1 GW), 17 Ceylon Engineer Service (CES), Sri Lanka General Service Corps (SLAGSC) - Diyatalawa, 8 Sri Lanka Army Service Corp (SLASC), 7 Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP), Army Base Hospital - Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka Air Force Combat Training School (SLAFCTS) - Diyatalawa and Sri Lanka and 2 (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, contributed immensely to the preparations of Vesak lanterns, that depicted various life stories of the Buddha attracted the attention of thousands of locals and visitors who visited the Vesak zone. The "Bakthi Gee" Sang by staff of SFHQ (Central), all sub installation members in Diyatalawa Garrison and school children in the area also participated to brighten the event, which attracted a large crowd.