20th July 2023 11:33:57 Hours
Coordinated efforts of 7 Officers and 140 Army troops of the 7 and 5 (V) Sri Lanka Artillery, 5th Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, and 3rd Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps brought down a fast spreading forest fire in Thalapathkanda, Hatharaskotuva area on Wednesday (19 July). The fire was expanding from 121 mile post to 125th mile post around 7 square kilometers.
Upon the outbreak of the forest fire, the Range Forest Office officials in Habarana quickly alerted the 7 Sri Lanka Artillery troops and other agencies in the area seeking assistance. 03 Officers including Commanding Officer of the 7 Sri Lanka Artillery and 50 troops rapidly went to the fire spreading area and did the initial work to control the blaze. Their efforts were commendable in minimizing the spread of the fire and protecting the surrounding area and however, recognizing the need of additional resources to extinguishing the fire, call upon requested more support coordinating with the 231 Infantry Brigade and 23 Infantry Division.
As quick as possible 22 Infantry Division responses to the 23 Infantry Division's call and sent 50 army personals with 2 Officers including Commanding Officer of 5 (V) Sri Lanka Artillery to the extinguishing of the forest fire. Simultaneously 2 Officers and 33 Army personal of 3rd Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps and 5th Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps troops, involved the situation with two water bowsers and one fire vehicle. Higurakgoda Air Force based also joined with their one helicopter to extinguishing the fire. Subsequently General Officer Commanding of 22 and 23 Infantry Divisions and Brigade Commanders of 222 and 231 Infantry Brigades were arrived to the forest fire area to instruct the troops for extinguishing the fire quickly. With the coordinating effort of Army troops, Air Force and forest officers, in the area however brought the fire under complete control within a seven hours.
The Eastern Commander, Major General Dharshana Wijesekera, ordered to dispatched teams immediately to the location and instructed according to the situation to control the forest fire. This task was carried out under the guidance of Major General G M N Perera RWP RSP USP ndc, and Brigadier K.V.N.P Premaratne RSP USP psc, General Officer Commanding of the 22 and 23 Infantry Divisions. Brigadier N S S Dias RSP and Brigadier K.M.C.S Kumarasinghe Brigade Commanders of 222 and 231 Infantry Brigades closely monitored the situation and instructed army troops to rapidly extinguishing the fire. After extinguishing the fire the Eastern Commander went to that area and appreciated the work by addressing the senior officers, officers and the army troops involved to do this.
