16th September 2023 00:00:00 Hours
Having the great intention of setting a World Record by walking from Point Pedro to Point Dondra alongwith the aim of paying utmost tribute to heroic sri lankan soldiers for their supreme sacrifice made to attain the unitary status of the motherland, Staff Sergeant Keerthirathna KIS from 3rd Regiment Sri Lanka Signal Corps started the long journey by walking from Point Pedro to Point Dondra on 05th September 2023 at 1800 hours from the location at Sakkotei Cape -Point Pedro.
The commencement ceremony of this world record breaking feat was organised by the 3rd Regiment Sri Lanka Signal Corps over the instructions of the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel ULCD Perera psc SLSC at the Sakkotei Cape -Point Pedro and it was held under the patronage of the General Officer Commanding 52 Infantry Division, Major General Y A B M Yahampath RWP RSP ndu psc. The staff of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna, 521 Infantry Brigade, 3rd Regiment Sri Lanka Signal Corps participated in the event.
The historic effort, commenced on 05th September 2023 was successfully achieved at point Dondra in the morning hours on 16 September 2023 after completing 11 fast moving stages. The unfolding of stages are as follows:
Stage 1- Point Pedro to Iranamadu
Stage 2- Iranamadu to Omanthai
Stage 3- Omanthai to Saliyapura
Stage 4 - Saliyapura to Galgamuwa
Stage 5 - Galgamuwa to Wariyapola
Stage 6 - Wariyapola to Polgahawela
Stage 7 - Polgahawela to Kalagedihea
Stage 8 - Kalagedihea to Colombo
Stage 9 - Colombo to Kalutara
Stage 10 - Kalutara to Galle
Stage 11- Galle to Point of Dondra
Owing to his great determination and courage , the same steady pace he managed to maintain during each stage, paved the way for completion of this remarkable achievement in advance whilst convincingly securing and consolidating his world record in much lesser time. At the culmination of his entire walk, he had coverd a distance of 580.16 km in 10 days , 12 hours and 2 minutes.
The Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General HLVM Liyanage RWP RSP ndu also conveyed his complentry regards over his extraordinary effort along with the guidance of Major General KAWS Ratnayake ndu, the Chief Signal Officer of Sri Lanka Army and the Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Signal Corps.
The presentation ceremony for this unique achievement was held at Point of Dondra during morning hours on 16 September 2023 under the patronage of Major General DMPP Dassanayake, the Commander FMA( Central), Commander 613 Infantry Brigade, Colonel K A D N R Kannangara RSP IG, Centre Commandant of Signal Regimatal Centre, Colonel A K D Adikari USP, Lieutenant Colonel ULCD Perera psc, the Commading Officer of 3rd Regiment Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Major RMKUK Ratnayake USP, the Commanding Officer of 5th Regiment Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Dr. Lal Eakanayake , the President of the Cerandib World Record Organisation and Head of the Sports Medicine Unit at Sports Ministry and its Members. At the ceremony he was awarded with a certificate, a trophy and a medal for signifying his setting of new world record.
Further, Senior Officers and officers, Other Ranks of the Corps of Signals and Army also participated in the event.
