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Commemoration of Fallen War Heroes of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) who made supreme sacrifice during ‘Operation Pawan’ and other operations during the period from 1987 to 1990 in Sri Lanka was held at the IPKF Monument in Palaly on Saturday, 15th August 2020. The event took place in correspondence to the 74th Independence Day of India. Consul General of India in Jaffna, Mr. S Balachandran and Commander Forward Maintenance Area (North), Major General Lakshman Fernando paid tribute to the Fallen Heroes placing flower wreaths at the IPKF Monument.

Senior Army Officers, Officials from the Consulate General of India in Jaffna and Troops attended the ceremony.

Major General Senerath Bandara who assumed duties as the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna, paid his maiden field visit to 52 Division Headquarters on 12 August 2020.

The Security Forces Commander was warmly welcomed by the General Officer Commanding 52 Division, and conducted a comprehensive briefing on area of responsibilities. The Security Forces Commander addressed the Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers and troops under 52 Division.

Major General Senerath Bandara who assumed duties as the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna, paid his maiden field visit to 51 Division Headquarters on 11 August 2020.

The Security Forces Commander was warmly welcomed by the General Officer Commanding 51 Division, and conducted a comprehensive briefing on area of responsibility. The Security Forces Commander addressed the Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers and troops under 51 Division.

Major General Senarath Bandara assumed duties as the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna on Sunday, 09 August 2020. A Guard of Honour was extended to the incoming Commander by the troops of the 12th Battalion the Gamunu Watch on arrival at the Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna. He placed his signature in the first official document to mark assuming duty, amidst chanting of Seth Pirith in the presence of General Officers Commanding 51, 52 and 55 Divisions, All Brigade Commanders and Senior Staff Officers of Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna.

Religious dignitaries were also present in the office of the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna to bless him in his new appointment. He planted a sapling of Mango (Magnifera Indica) marking his appointment as the Commander Security Forces – Jaffna. Finally, he participated in the All Ranks tea party organized at the Other Ranks’ Dinning Hall of Security Forces Headquarters followed by the troops address

Being a proud product of Vidyartha College Kandy, he joined the Regular Force of Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in 1986 and successfully completed the Basic Military Course at Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa. In 1986 he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and was posted to the one of the most respected and reputed Infantry Regiments in Sri Lanka Army “The Gemunu Watch”, since then he counts over 34 years of service in the Sri Lanka Army.

Major General Senarath Bandara is a battle hardened officer, injured three times during the war. As a highly decorated infantry officer, he had been awarded three times with the elite 'Rana Wickrama Paddakkama', two times with 'Rana Sura Paddakkama' and three times with 'Desha Putra Sammanaya' in recognition of the gallantry, invaluable and selfless dedication excelled in face of enemy in battle field. He has served in many command and staff appointments including Commanding Officer 5th Gemunu Watch, Commanding Officer Infantry Training Centre, Colonel General Staff 57 Division, Commander 572 Offensive Brigade during the peak of Humanitarian Operations, Commander 111 Brigade, Director Independent Directorate at Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding 61 Infantry Division and 54 Infantry Division. Before being appointed to his present appointment he was serving as the Commander Security Forces - East.

Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya who held the office of the Commander Security Force (Jaffna) for over a year, relinquished the appointment on 08 August 2020 to assume duties as Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. Prior to leaving Jaffna, the outgoing Commander Security Forces – Jaffna, paid official visits to 51, 52 and 55 Divisions and Forward Maintenance Area (North), Kankesanthurai and appreciatively addressed troops. He offered his gratitude to All Ranks serving in respective formations for high standard of professionalism maintained during the past year and committed service rendered to maintain a peaceful environment in Jaffna peninsula. On the 07 August, he was extended a Guard of Honour at the Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna by the troops of 10th Sri Lanka Artillery.

Before being appointed the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna on 15 July 2019, Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya served as General Officer Commanding 59 Division in Mullaitivu. He has held many responsible Command, Staff and Instructor appointments in the organization and has followed a number of local and foreign courses.

Since the day he took over the office as Commander Security Forces - Jaffna, Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya initiated several measures to enhance security of Jaffna peninsula, which enabled strengthening the public confidence towards the Security Forces deployed in Jaffna peninsula while maintaining peaceful and free environment for day to day normal life of the population.

The Harmony Centre in Kankesanthurai established for the benefit of Children and Adults in the area was a conceptual initiation of Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander Security Forces Jaffna to uplift the living standards and education in Kankesanthurai area. The first stage of Students Registration for English and Sinhala Language course, Mathematics, Aesthetics, Yoga and Information Technology courses at the Harmony Centre began on 06 August 2020. All the courses will be coordinated and conducted by ‘Vidhu Trust’ and Divisional Secretariat – Thelippalai associating renowned teachers and instructors in the area.

Commander Security Forces Jaffna, Divisional Secretary Thelippalai, General Officer Commanding 51 Division, Senior Officers, Troops, Residents and Students were present at the occasion.

The 28th death anniversary of Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and several other military War Heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country took place on Saturday, 08 August 2020 amidst military honours at the monument in Araly where Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander Security Forces - Jaffna participated as the Chief Guest.

Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, one of the finest warriors ever-produced by the Army in our contemporary history, fell silent on 08 August 1992, along with a few more fellow military veterans and soldiers, Major General Wijaya Wimalarathne, Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, Colonel H P Stephen, Colonel Y N Palipana, Colonel G H Ariyarathne, Lieutenant Colonel Nalin de Alwis, Lieutenant Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, , Lieutenant Commander C B Wijepura and Corporal Wickramarathne W J while they were on a military assignment in Araly Point, Kayts, Jaffna.

Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, an old Trinitian, joined the Sri Lanka Army on 25th May 1960. After the basic military training at the Army Training Centre, he left for Sandhurst, UK to receive further training at the prestigious Royal Military Academy before he was commissioned to the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, as a Second Lieutenant on 3rd August 1962.

Floral wreath-laying and heralding the Last Post brought the day’s commemorative event to an end. A gathering of grateful Officers of the Tri Forces and Other Ranks of the Army were present at the occasion.

Sri Lanka Army in Jaffna extends support to another programme of upgrading of health facilities at Cancer Hospital Thelippalai on the sheer guidance of Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander Security Forces Jaffna. Along with the coordination of Regional Directorate of Health Services – Jaffna troops under Security Forces Jaffna provided manpower to construct a new Residential Accommodation building at the Cancer Hospital for the benefit of residential cancer patients.

The new building was declared open by Commander Security Forces Jaffna on 07 August 2020 during a formal ceremony organized at the Cancer Hospital premises. General Officers Commanding 51 and 52 Divisions, Senior Officers, Officials of Regional Directorate of Health Services – Jaffna, Doctors and medical staff of Thelippalai Cancer Hospital and Troops were present to witness the occasion.

Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna organized a brief ceremony to initiate the construction work of ‘Palaly Piyasa’ Holiday Inn in Palaly for all ranks. Accordingly, Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commander Security Forces Jaffna laid the foundation stone for the new project.

Senior Staff Officers of Security Forces Headquarters (Jaffna), Officers and Other Ranks witnessed the occasion.

Sri Lanka Army in Jaffna being a force of preserving environment, launched another tree planting project in Palaly under the sheer guidance of Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya Commander Security Forces (Jaffna) on 06 August 2020. The project named ‘Nandana Uyana’ aims to extend the green cover in Palaly and as a whole in Jaffna peninsula.

Senior Staff Officers of Security Forces Headquarters (Jaffna), Officers and Other Ranks witnessed the occasion.