LATE MAJOR GENERAL S.V PANABOKKE (RETD) AMID MILITARY HONOURS LAID TO REST

Amid a gathering of his past military comrades and scores of mourners, late Major General Sanath Kumara Vamadewa Panabokke (Retd) bade farewell to the Nation during a military funeral that took place at the Colombo General Cemetery on Monday (07) evening. He passed away on Friday (04) at the age of 85 years.

His funeral procession represented by scores of Army Senior Officers, including Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), Major General Sena Waduge, Adjutant General, Major General Kelum Nugegoda, Deputy Commandant SLAVF, Brigadier Udaya Kumara, Director Personnel Administration, Brigadier Dammika Dissanayake, Centre Commandant of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) and several Senior Officers began marching before the troops in accordance with military traditions received the remains, presenting arms, prior to its placing on the gun carriage.

As the sky turned pale and the Sri Lanka Army band began playing hymns, an eight man military team of bearers carried the casket, draped in the National Flag.

Those participating in the solemn funeral ceremony in the cemetery afterwards listened to the Special Part I Order, issued by Major General Sena Waduge, Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army on behalf of the Commander of the Army.

The Special Part I Order was read to the gathering by an officer of the deceased’s Regiment of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment before troops saluted their late Major General with firing of symbolic 13 gun salute, the highest tribute a military officer could get in the event of his death.

Minutes after the Last Post, the bugle call that sounded, indicating that the great soldier has gone to his final rest, the remains were taken to the graveyard as everyone bade the final farewell to their beloved relative and the former senior military officer.

Special Part I Order issued by the Commander of the Army read out during the funeral reads as follows.