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Thai Pongal,’ the thanksgiving or the festival of harvest was marked at the end of the harvest season and is one of the most important festivals, celebrated by Hindus in Sri Lanka together with their fellow-believers in the South Asia.

The main morning pooja on the day of Thaipongal at the Selva Sannaddi Kovil was co-sponsored by the 521 Brigade Headquarters and the 11th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

Tamil Thai Pongal Day is a Tamil and Hindu harvest festival designed to give thanks to the sun god. The second day of Thai Pongal it separated for the festival of farmers, cows, buffaloes and other natural elements, for a bountiful harvest of their staple food, rice. Tamil community in Jaffna celebrated second day of the Thai Pongal - 2022, at the Araly Avarampitty Sri Muthumariamman Kovil on 15 January. On behalf of the Commander Security Forces, Jaffna, Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa, General Officer Commanding, 51 Division, Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe participated for the festival as the Chief Guest.

In lieu with monthly CIMIC calendar, 51 Division distributed pairs of shoes among 58 deserving schoolchildren selected from Selvapuram and Yogapuram villages of Jaffna. Symbolically 05 pairs of shoes gifted to children during a ceremony held at Headquarter, 51 Division on 14 January, Thai Pongal Day and others gifted to children by visiting respective houses.

The ceremony was organised with the guidance and blessings of the Commander Security Forces, Jaffna, Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa and students along with their parents participated for the main ceremony. Adding to that, gifted dry ration packs for parents and paid their gratitude to the Sri Lanka Army for assisting them to upgrade their educational standard and living standard.

A large gathering of youngsters, kids and civilians flocked to the Kankesanthurai coastal area on Thai Pongal Day to enjoy a mammoth kite flying festival. Troops of the Security Force Headquarters Jaffna, together with the support of the Elavalai Youth Club, organized the event with the intention of promoting goodwill and reconciliation between the civilians and members of the Security Forces in the peninsula.

The festival was made a reality on a proposal of Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa, the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna in close consultation with the Divisional Secretariat Office – Thelippalei and youngsters in the area. More than 200 kites produced to the festival by civil and military members and made their way to the skies.

Tamil Thai Pongal Day is a Tamil and Hindu harvest festival designed to give thanks to the sun god. Traditionally, it is the festival of farmers who depend on mother earth, the sun, rain, other natural elements, cows and buffaloes for a bountiful harvest of their staple food, rice. Hence, after two years, Tamil community in Jaffna celebrated Thai Pongal - 2022, in grand level and the main celebration was held at the Nallur Kovil. Kovil authorities and the Government Agent – Jaffna, maid a request by seeking military assistance and Commander Security Forces, Jaffna, Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa given his concern and blessings to General Officer Commanding, 51 Division, Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe to coordinate the celebrations.

In line with the national policy of promoting Green Agriculture and on guidance of General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head of the Green Agriculture Operation Centre (OAOC), 551 Infantry Brigade in collaboration with Zonal Education Office-Vadamarachchi initiated a Pilot Project under the theme of “Promoting Green Agriculture, Unity and Reconciliation through Home Gardening" under the instructions of Security Forces Commander (Jaffna) and GOC 55 Infantry Division on 13 January 2022 at the Zonal Education Office - Vadamarachchi premises.

On the guidance of Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa, the Security Forces Commander (Jaffna), troops of 521 Infantry Brigade gifted 50 stationary packs to fifty well deserved school children in keeping the vision of brightening their future.

This donation programme was held under the supervision of Brigadier MM Salwathura, Commander 521 Infantry Brigade at Main Hall, Uduppiddy Girls School on 13 January 2022 in celebration of Thai Pongal festival.

In keeping with the government vision of promoting green agriculture and following the guidelines of the head of green agriculture operative centre, General Shavendra Silva, the Jaffna district coordinator of green agriculture, Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa held cordial interaction with Additional Secretary to the Thellippalei divisional secretariat, farmers, grama niladari, economic development officers, heads of the agrarian committees and agricultural officers in the area and other related agencies at the Divisional Secretariat office Thellippalai on 9 January 2022. Divisional secretariat Thelippalei Mr. Sammugarasa Siwasri took part in this discussion.

On the invitation of General Officer Commanding 51 Infantry Division, Commander Security Forces - Jaffna Major General Sujeewa Senarath Yapa gifted school stationeries to the well deserved fifty schooling children as stationary is a part of inseparable and essential part of student's life to enrich their learning and emerge from school as professionals in their career. Generous sponsorship was extended by 10th regiment Sri Lanka Artillery to mark their 25th anniversary. Event was held at Divisional Secretariat Office, Thellippalai on 09 January 2022.