10th October 2020 14:06:16 Hours
71st Army Day lies on 10 October 2020 and as a practice formal ceremonies take place at each military establishment, with the guidelines of the Army Headquarters. Following the guidelines an iconic ceremony held with the patronage of Colonel of the Regiment VIR, Major General Sisira Pilapitiya at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Centre, Boyagane, Kurunegala by adhering all the preventive measures for COVID-19 pandemic.
Blossomed into a full-fledged Army during its life-span of past 71 years, the Sri Lanka Army to-date had been effectively commanded by 22 Commanders, elevating the organization to impressive heights. The Sri Lanka Army as the country’s most-sought service provider and the defender of the nation, in addition to its prioritized and rejuvenated security roles for defence of the motherland, is currently engaged in a multitude of nation-building tasks, community-oriented welfare projects, search and rescue efforts during natural disasters and catastrophes, national emergencies, infrastructure development assignments.
The day’s itinerary got to a start with hoisting of the Army Flag by the Centre Commandant VIR and the Army Song jointly sung by everyone present at the venue, rent the air, adding grandeur and patriotic sentiments to the occasion. The two-minute silence that followed afterwards in solemn moment of gratitude venerated in memory of fallen War Heroes who sacrificed their lives to defend the motherland. The podium was then set for recitation of the Army Commander’s Message that heralds a prospects for all in the Army.
On the 71st Army Anniversary, Deputy Commandant VIR, Staff Officer I (Veterans Affairs) and SO III (Audit) have been promoted to their next higher rank by the HE the President and Commander of the Army authorized them to wear their new rank on this Army Day. New ranks were wore by the Centre Commandant as a formal practice of the anniversary programme. The venue was set for the day’s next highlight, as the investiture ceremony of promotions of Other Ranks by the Centre Commandant and Deputy Centre Commandant VIR and Regimental Grade I Staff Officers. In that, total 1476 Other Ranks belong to VIR (Warrant Officer I - 8, Warrant Officer II - 69, Colour Sergeant - 37, Sergeant - 300, Corporal - 395 and Lance Corporal - 667) have been promoted. 59 other ranks of Regimental Staff who were elevated to their next rank were suited to upgrade their attire in this investiture ceremony.
The Centre Commandant, Deputy Centre Commandant, Staff Officers, Regimental Sergeant Major and Other Ranks, Civil Servants serving in Regimental Centre attended for these chain of commemorative events.
