24th August 2023 10:53:34 Hours
On 22nd August 2023, a devastating fire broke out in the Koskale - Opatha forest area, posing a severe threat to the environment and nearby areas. In response, 611 Infantry Brigade swiftly dispatched around 60 troops from the 8 Battalion Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment to collaborate with the police in extinguishing the fire and preventing further damage.
In a similar incident, on the following day, in the early morning hours on 23 August 2023, a bushfire erupted in the general area of Galdola, prompting the District Secretariat (Kalthota) and the Disaster Management Center (DMC), Rathnapura, to request assistance from the Sri Lankan Army. Responding promptly, 60 personnel from the 8 Battalion Gemunu Watch, including four officers, swiftly mobilized and joined forces to combat the fire.
Further, during those forest fires, the Army troops wasted no time in joining forces with the relevant authorities to combat the blazes. With the Army's presence, the joint operations benefited from increased manpower, which allowed for swift action and minimized the damage caused by the fires.
At the same time, the Army's involvement in those emergency situations was closely monitored by the respective Commanding Officers with the guidance of the Commander, 611 Infantry, under the directions of the Commander, Security Forces (West).
